Lagos State Government has said that it would soon acquire more lands for agricultural purposes in Osun and Oyo States as part of efforts to ensure food security in the state despite the growing population of residents.
Lagos to acquire more farmland in Osun, Oyo
by Muritala Ayinla
Lagos State Government has said that it would soon acquire more lands for agricultural purposes in Osun and Oyo States as part of efforts to ensure food security in the state despite the growing population of residents. Speaking with New Telegraph, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, state Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative, said the dream of achieving a mega city status would not be feasible, if the government is not doing anything to ensure food security for the populace, adding that the moves would not only create jobs but also assist the state in meeting its 25 per cent food production target by 2018.
He explained that food production has commenced on the parcel of land initially acquired from Osun, Ogun and other states, adding that efforts were ongoing to acquire additional 1,000 hectares of arable land from Osun and Ogun states.
“For Ogun, we have started production on the 500 hectares, a lot of land clearing has commenced. For Osun, we have started production because we have 4,000 stands of oil palm and we are doing a lot of vegetables and pineapple because the land there is about 84 acres. We are in the process of getting additional 1,000 hectares there but we have not concluded that. For Oyo, we are also in the process of getting the final approval.
The two governors have expressed their readiness to collaborate with us in this regards,” he said. Explaining the reason the state is embarking on acquisition of land mass from neighbouring states for food production, Lawal said that limited arable land in the state with huge population necessitated the government’s decision, adding that the action is a global practice.
“The arable land in Lagos is not adequate for the people of Lagos. Real estate is where Lagos has a comparative advantage. While some people are coming from other states to get our land for real estate, why can’t we go to other states to get arable land for farming and other agricultural purposes? We are not the only state or sub national government doing this. China went to Russia to get land. China’s farm is in Ethiopia. Saudi Arabia got 10,000 hectares of land from Sudan for agricultural purposes; Brazil also has something of that nature in Mozambique. It is a global practice everywhere,” he said.
