In a significant move to enhance food security, Niger State Governor Umar Bago has allocated 100,000 hectares of arable land to Lagos State for agricultural development.
The announcement was made at the FirstBank Nigeria-sponsored Agric & Export Expo 2025 in Lagos, marking a landmark partnership between Nigeria’s largest state by landmass and its most populous state.
Governor Bago emphasized that the initiative, dubbed “Lagos Farms,” will leverage mechanized farming, irrigation, and value-chain processing across Niger’s agricultural belts to produce crops like rice, maize, and legumes.
“This collaboration shifts us from subsistence farming to a modern food economy,” Bago stated, noting that the deal will also phase out the practice of moving live cattle to Lagos, promoting processed livestock instead.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the partnership as an economic imperative, with Lagos serving as a major market for Niger’s produce.
“This ensures food availability and price stability for our citizens while providing Niger’s farmers a reliable market,” he said, highlighting investments in logistics and digital trade platforms to support the initiative.
The agreement builds on the “Produce-for-Lagos” initiative, ensuring a steady supply to Lagos’ food logistics hub in Epe.
The collaboration is expected to reduce food inflation, create thousands of jobs, and boost non-oil exports through agro-processing.
Experts also predict it will strengthen inter-state ties and reduce herder-farmer conflicts by modernizing livestock management.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, represented by Special Adviser Ibrahim Alkali, praised the deal as aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to transform Nigerian agriculture into a global export powerhouse.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com