Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commissioned the Lagos Fresh Food Hub at Pen Cinema, Agege, as part of efforts by his administration to overhaul food distribution, cut post harvest losses and make food more accessible and affordable to residents.
The Governor, who commissioned the facility on Wednesday, said the project represented a major step in Lagos’ drive to build a food system capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly growing population.
He said with more than 70 per cent of food consumed in Lagos coming from outside the state, the government had shifted its focus beyond food production to developing an efficient system for moving food from farms to consumers.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the strategy was built around a network of modern food hubs designed to shorten supply chains, improve storage and logistics, reduce waste and create a more organised environment for farmers, traders and consumers.
The Agege facility, he said, would complement the Lagos Central Food Systems and Logistics Hub at Ketu Ereyun, Epe, which is being developed as the major aggregation and distribution centre for the state’s food system.
According to him, the Epe hub is at an advanced stage and is expected to be commissioned before the end of his administration, while additional mid level hubs are being developed in Opebi and Bombata, with planned locations in Ikorodu, Apapa, Festac and the Lekki axis.
Sanwo-Olu said the success of the Fresh Food Hub in Mushin demonstrated the economic potential of the initiative, noting that it had recorded more than ₦4 billion in transactions since its commissioning in 2023, with over 850 registered vendors and more than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs created.
He added that the Produce for Lagos Programme and the ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund were providing farmers with stronger market assurances by linking agricultural production to organised demand in Lagos.
The Governor also disclosed that more than 125,800 farmers and fishermen had been trained in modern agricultural practices, while over 4,000 young people had received training through the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme.
Speaking on the project, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said the Agege hub was conceived as part of an integrated food distribution network rather than merely another market.
Olusanya said the hub would connect farmers, aggregators, processors, suppliers and bulk dealers with commissioned agents, retailers and institutional buyers, supported by cold and dry storage facilities.
She said the facility occupies about 7,000 square metres and includes a 4,000 square metre trading floor capable of accommodating between 350 and 400 vendors.
The hub also has about 1,200 square metres of dry storage with a capacity of approximately 800 metric tonnes, 300 metric tonnes of cold storage, a dedicated seafood section, parking for between 80 and 90 vehicles and 10 electric vehicle charging points.
Olusanya projected that the facility could facilitate more than ₦5 billion worth of food transactions annually, while creating opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
She said the project was also designed to improve sanitation, waste management, loading and offloading, produce handling and inventory monitoring, thereby providing a cleaner and more efficient trading environment.
The Commissioner disclosed that full operations at the facility would commence in six weeks after the completion of operator onboarding and the implementation of its operational and governance systems.
She said the government had developed a 351 page operating framework to guide activities at the hub, covering areas including quality control, storage, sanitation, waste management and trading operations.
Olusanya said Lagos’ ambition was for the Agege facility to demonstrate what a modern food market should look like and eventually become a benchmark for food distribution facilities across Nigeria and Africa.
The Governor urged farmers, traders and other operators to take ownership of the facility and maximise the opportunities it provides, stressing that the ultimate goal was to strengthen the food supply chain and ensure that Lagos residents have reliable access to fresh and affordable food.
On his part, a member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Wale Ahmed, said the people of Agege were happy with the choice of location for the project.
According to him, the food hub would attract ₦5 billion worth of food produce monthly, describing the figure as a huge investment opportunity for residents.
The Olu of Agege, Oba Kabila Oyedeji, thanked the Governor for the initiative, assuring him that the people would not disappoint but would take maximum advantage of the project.
While adding her voice, the Iyaloja General of Orile Agege, Chief Mrs. Bola Orelaro, assured the Governor that the food hub would emerge as the best among those already established.
She also promised to promote it and urged residents to embrace the modern market structure as a valuable gift from the state.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Agege Local Government, Abdul Ganiyi Vinod Obasa, described the event as historic, saying the food hub would further fast track the socioeconomic development of Agege.
He noted that the food hub was a practical way of ensuring hygienic food at the doorstep of residents, adding that it would guarantee food security in the state.
The council boss pointed out that a secure food system was not optional but a necessity for a growing population like Lagos, noting that it would help farmers get their produce to the market with ease.
