By Olivia Ambrose, JKNewsMedia Intern
THE GROWING challenge of food insecurity in Lagos State took center stage on Friday as lawmakers held simultaneous meetings with their constituents to address the issue.
Lagos State House of Assembly members renewed their commitment to addressing food shortages, stressing the need for collective action to boost food production.
In Agege Constituency 1, Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, highlighted food insecurity as a complex problem that requires joint efforts from the government and citizens.
He emphasized the importance of making Lagos a food-producing hub instead of relying on consumption alone.
This year’s stakeholders’ meeting, the ninth in the series, focused on “Ensuring Food Security for a Sustainable Future: Youth Participation and Home-Grown Farming.”
Obasa reaffirmed the Assembly’s dedication to ensuring food security, aligning with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals of eradicating poverty.
He pointed out several initiatives, including the Ikorodu Fish Farm Estate, which processes 10,000 tons of fish annually, and partnerships with 400 fish farmers.
Other agricultural projects mentioned include the AGRIC-YES programme and the Oke-Aro and Gberigbe Pig Farm Estates, which engage over 1,200 farmers and can process 88,000 pigs each year.
The Speaker also stressed the importance of expanding farming capacity and urged residents to consider animal husbandry.
Agege Local Government Chairman, Ganiyu Egunjobi, pointed to insecurity and the lack of low-interest loans as significant barriers to youth participation in farming.
He called on the government to offer financial subsidies and improve infrastructure in rural areas to encourage farming and reduce youth unemployment.
Dr. Akinyemi Olusegun, a keynote speaker from the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, urged Lagosians to embrace urban farming, especially given the city’s large population and growing food demand.
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