The Lagos State Government has commissioned the Agege Fresh Food Hub as part of efforts to reduce post-harvest losses, improve food distribution and strengthen food security across the state.
The Mid-Level Agro-Produce Hub was inaugurated on Wednesday at Pen Cinema, Agege.
It is the third facility of its kind established by the state government, following the Fresh Food Hub in Mushin, commissioned in December 2023, and the Abijo Fresh Food Hub, which opened earlier this year.
The hubs are designed to streamline the movement of agricultural produce by shortening supply chains, reducing unnecessary middlemen, improving handling practices and enhancing the efficiency of food distribution.
In his keynote address, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the Agege facility represented another step in the state’s efforts to build a stronger and more efficient food value chain.
“Today marks another important milestone in our collective journey to build a food-secure, economically vibrant, and resilient Lagos.
“The commissioning of this Mid-Level Agro-Produce Hub in Agege is not simply the unveiling of another piece of infrastructure.
“It is the physical expression of a larger vision that places food security at the heart of our development agenda.
“It also recognises that the prosperity of Lagos is inseparable from the strength and efficiency of its food system,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor said the state began reviewing its food system in 2021 and concluded that ensuring adequate food supply required more than simply increasing agricultural production.
“Lagos is Nigeria’s largest food market and one of Africa’s fastest-growing urban centres.
“With a population of over 25 million people, our demand for food is enormous and grows every day.
“Yet over 70 per cent of that food is produced outside our borders and travels long distances through fragmented supply chains.
“This exposes residents to high transportation costs, post-harvest losses, poor storage, supply disruptions and price volatility,” he said.
Mr Sanwo-Olu said the government subsequently adopted a comprehensive approach aimed at improving every stage of the food supply system, from production and aggregation to logistics, processing and final distribution.
He said the initiative gave rise to the Lagos State Food Systems Transformation Agenda, which seeks to make food more sustainable, affordable, efficient and safe for residents.
“This is why we created a network of Mid-Level Agro-Produce Hubs, beginning with the Fresh Food Hub, Mushin, commissioned in December 2023.
“This was followed by the Fresh Food Hub, Abijo, commissioned by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, earlier this year,” he said.
According to the governor, the Mushin Fresh Food Hub has recorded transactions worth more than ₦4 billion over 228 market days since it began operations.
He added that more than 850 vendors had registered at the facility, while its operations had generated over 7,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Sanwo-Olu said modern and properly planned market facilities could help improve farmers’ earnings, minimise food losses, create employment opportunities and stimulate local economic activity.
“Today, we proudly add Agege to that network. This Hub is strategically located to serve Agege and its neighbouring communities.
“It will also strengthen the wider food-distribution network across Lagos and bring modern food infrastructure closer to the people,” he said.
He said the hub system would enable farmers in Lagos and partner states to produce in response to structured and guaranteed demand from the state’s large consumer market.
According to him, the model would help address challenges relating to access to finance and reliable markets for agricultural producers.
The governor said the arrangement would reduce distress sales, raise farmers’ incomes and encourage increased investment in food production.
The governor also added that the facilities formed part of a connected food distribution strategy designed to ensure the efficient movement of produce from farms to aggregation centres, markets and ultimately consumers.
He said work was also advancing on similar projects in Opebi and Bombata, while additional locations had been identified in Ikorodu, Apapa, Festac and the Lekki axis.
“Our long-term objective is clear: to establish structured food hubs across every Local Government and Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.
“This is so that no community is left behind in the modern food-distribution network we are building,” he said.
