Ayodele Olalere
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Wednesday, laid the foundation for the construction of Lagos Central Food Security System and Logistics Hub in Ketu-Ereyun, Epe with the plan to create over 67,000 jobs when completed.
The hub is touted to be Africa’s largest food logistics park when completed.
According to the governor, who spoke at the ground breaking ceremony, the project would improve agricultural productivity in the state by addressing the challenges of stakeholders in the agricultural sector, and improve the quality of life of Lagosians.
READ ALSO: http://Gov. Wike’s ally dumps PDP for APC in Rivers
The Hub, which will be built on 1.2 million square metres of land, and will have components such as storage facilities, administrative offices, trading and brokering facilities,packaging facilities and processing facilities.
Other facilities will include, trailers park, water treatment plan, health centre, fuel and fire station, and abattoir.
Governor Sanwo-Olu further said when completed, the hub will create wealth for more than 5 million people, feed more than 10 million Lagosians, guarantee food supplies for at least 90 days, provide storage facilities for more than 1,500 trucks per day, service the needs of thousands of operators per annum, and process large commercial transactions.
“I can boldly say that this is one of the most important agricultural interventions that Nigeria has ever seen,” he said.
READ ALSO: http://137 directors fail test to become school Principals
He said the project was part of his administration’s five years agricultural and food systems road Map (2021–2025), which was launched in April 2021. The hub, he further said, is a partnership between the government and private sector.
He further said Imota Rice Mill, which is situated in Ikorodu will be opened before December 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding the state has also got approval from the federal government to construct Ibeju-Lekki/Epe cargo and passenger airport.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, described the project as ‘a legacy project’ of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu administration.
She said the hub would help to lower food prices, reduce wastages, and make more nutritious and wholesome food products available for Lagosians.