The Guardian (Nigeria)

‘ Our Target Is 50% Increase In Food Production By 2025’

- By Gbenga Salau

DETERMINED to achieve food security in Lagos, the state government has restated its commitment to increasing food production by 50 per cent over the next four years, thereby creating new opportunit­ies to feed itself and other states in Nigeria, as well as stimulatin­g economic growth and prosperity through agricultur­e.

The State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who disclosed this at an event organised to mark the 150th Cooperativ­e Anniversar­y of Friesland Campina, said the present administra­tion’s effort would boost economic growth and prosperity in the agricultur­e sector.

Referring to the recent launch of the Agricultur­e Value Chains Enterprise Activation Programme, Hamzat said the launch is a clear reference to the expansion of government’s vision, which is driven by a “Farm to Table Model” and has so far empowered about 3,000 urban and rural farmers in key sectoral value chains in the process.

He said: “Under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu, Lagos State, as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, has further renewed the vigour and vision to increase food production by, at least, 50 per cent by 2025, thereby creating new opportunit­ies to feed itself and Nigeria, as well as stimulatin­g economic growth and prosperity through agricultur­e.”

The Deputy Governor hoped that even after the tenure of the current administra­tion, the vision would be carried along into the future by other administra­tions with more farmer recruitmen­ts.

Hamzat stated that as Lagos State celebrates this anniversar­y with Friesland

Campina, Nigerian investors and business communitie­s must remember that the onus of building a great brand, such as Friesland Campina, is essential to safeguardi­ng economic, cultural and historical traditions to strengthen the country’s unity.

While congratula­ting the company on the milestone, Hamzat thanked them for having faith in the nation’s economy, despite the trying and challengin­g environmen­t.

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