News in Brief:
– Lagos State Agriculture Commissioner reiterated the administration’s commitment to its 5-year agricultural roadmap, stressing market transformation and food security.
– She announced Ramadan discounts at the Mushin Fresh Food Hub as a success of the Produce for Lagos initiative.
The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, has reaffirmed its dedication to meet the goals outlined in its 5-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap’s market transformation plan. Officials expressed confidence in the state’s ability to ensure food security and sustainability through collaboration with key stakeholders.
Retreat focuses on adaptation and growth
Speaking at a three-day annual retreat held at the Orchid Hotel in Lekki, themed The Adaptive Edge, Lead Change, Connect Strongly, Thrive as One, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, reiterated the continuous efforts required to revolutionise the state’s agricultural value chain.
She highlighted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s commitment to addressing evolving challenges. Olusanya explained that the 5-year roadmap, launched in April 2021, aligns with the THEMES Plus developmental agenda.
“The heart of the roadmap is still the market transformation agenda, which is the Central Logistics Hub; it is the most pivotal. We also have middle-level market and last-mile market,” she stated.
Furthermore, the commissioner elaborated on the Produce for Lagos Initiative. She noted that it focuses on domestic food production and up-country partnerships.
“Everything is all tied up back to the 5-year roadmap that we have been discussing in the last four years. We have not deviated from it; we have actually kept to it, and the impact of that you will see it more this year as we commission some of these landmark projects,” she said.
About THEMES
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES project is a comprehensive development agenda for Lagos State. It encompasses six key areas, namely: Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism, and Security and Governance.
Invariably, the initiative aims to drive holistic progress across these sectors to transform Lagos into a modern, efficient, and secure city.
Meanwhile, the annual retreat served to review the ministry’s past year and plan for the future.
“It is important that we are on the same page with regards to market forces and changes globally. We need to find ways to adapt and ways to be creative and utilise our resources more efficiently and ensure that even regards to revenue that should be generated also, we improve at the end of the day,” the commissioner said.
The retreat also focused on integrating new staff and ensuring knowledge transfer.
Ramadan discounts and food accessibility
To welcome Muslims to Ramadan, Olusanya announced that the state government will offer discounted prices at the Fresh Food Hub in Mushin, making Ounje Eko more accessible.
She stated that the impact of the government’s support to farmers under the Ounje Eko Farmers’ Subsidy Program will be seen in food price changes during this period.
Meanwhile, the state’s special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, praised the retreat’s engaging and cohesive nature. Fashola stated that it served to foster interaction and collaboration among staff.
