Lagos state government is set to launch a 5-year plan for the state’s agricultural sector.

The roadmap, which will be unveiled on Thursday, April the 22nd, is a subset of the state’s strategic plan: Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology (THEMES).

Lagos state has 22 million residents. These Lagosians spend N5 trillion on food annually, while consuming N8bn worth of food monthly. The commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, has announced that the plan covers attaining food security for the state and creating new economic opportunities for the private sector. The 5 year plan includes a restructuring of the state’s red meat value chain, livestock feed and artisanal fishery. 

In the commissioner’s address, she revealed that Lagosians are responsible for 50% of red meat consumed in Nigeria. Lagos state consumes about 6,000 herds of cattle daily. With these figures, there is undoubtedly a big opportunity for willing investors in the red meat value chain of the state. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO, food demand will only experience a steady rise with the intending population boom.

The state government is calling for private sector partners to invest in the state’s standardized value chain operations. Investment opportunities exist in animal identification and tagging, animal fattening farms and feedlots, animal haulage with new logistics solutions, and hygienic abattoirs.

The value chain appropriation will include proper management of animal waste, standardized meat shops, bio-gas production and transportation of the meat to the final consumers in a wholesome and hygienic way and condition.