The Lagos State Government is shifting attention from conventional farming to the wider food economy, with a renewed push to attract investment, strengthen logistics, expand food businesses and create a more efficient market for agricultural produce.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, declared this on Thursday at the Lagos Food Systems Nexus 2026, insisting that Nigeria’s food security challenges could not be solved by increasing agricultural production alone.
Olusanya, who spoke on the theme, “Food Security Is Not an Agricultural Problem: Connecting the Dots,” argued that the country’s approach to agriculture must evolve to reflect the growing influence of technology, entrepreneurship, food processing, transportation and distribution.
She maintained that the economic value of food extended well beyond the farm, stressing that businesses involved in transforming, transporting, marketing and delivering food were equally critical to building a sustainable food system.
According to her, the contradiction of increased agricultural production alongside persistent food insecurity demonstrates the need to address weaknesses across the entire food value chain.
The commissioner said Lagos had deliberately adopted this broader perspective through its five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap, conceived early in the Sanwo-Olu administration.
She described the Lagos Food Systems Nexus as a platform for bringing together stakeholders from different sectors to identify investment opportunities, build partnerships and develop practical solutions to challenges affecting the food economy.
Olusanya also highlighted the growing role of young entrepreneurs in reshaping the sector, noting that young Nigerians were building businesses across food technology, delivery services, processing and other emerging areas.
She cited the experiences of young beneficiaries of government-supported initiatives, including those who had leveraged grants and an enabling business environment to expand their enterprises and create employment opportunities.
While acknowledging the contributions of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in supporting innovation, she said the determination and entrepreneurial drive of the beneficiaries were responsible for turning those opportunities into tangible achievements.
She challenged stakeholders to create an economic environment that would allow more young Nigerians to thrive, insisting that the country’s abundance of talent must be matched with policies and investments that unlock enterprise.
The commissioner called for stronger partnerships among government, the private sector, academic institutions, development partners and multilateral organisations, stressing that no single institution could independently address the complexities of food security.
She also expressed appreciation to Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Lagos State House of Assembly and the judiciary for their support for the state’s expanded food systems vision.
In her contribution, the Dean of Lagos Business School, Prof. Olayinka David-West, identified inadequate funding and inefficient logistics as major obstacles to unlocking the agricultural sector’s full potential.
She called for increased financial investment in agriculture, noting that improved funding would strengthen productivity and position the sector for greater economic contribution.
David-West also stressed the importance of efficient transportation and distribution networks to ensure that farm produce reached markets and consumers on time, thereby reducing post-harvest losses.
She argued that farmers would be more willing to invest their resources and energy in cultivation if reliable off-takers were available to purchase their produce without unnecessary difficulties.
According to her, guaranteeing access to markets would encourage more investment in farming while strengthening the entire agricultural value chain.
She commended Olusanya for her passion, commitment and leadership in advancing the state’s food security agenda, particularly her efforts to bring relevant stakeholders together to develop solutions to the sector’s challenges.
In his remarks, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended President Bola Tinubu for the decision to provide interest-free loans to farmers nationwide as part of efforts to ensure food security in the country.
The President, during his campaign trail in Akwa Ibom State, declared that food security was the single most important security challenge that must be addressed to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens.
Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke at the Lagos Food Systems Nexus 2026, themed “Food Security Is Not an Agricultural Problem: Connecting the Dots,” organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems.
He charged Nigerians to return to the era when agriculture was widely embraced and played a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the nation.
Sanwo-Olu also told participants at the gathering that they were not only important to the state government but were central to the very survival of the state’s economy.
