Sanwo-Olu: Food security is national security, demands investment beyond farming

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described food security as a critical national security concern, calling for increased investment and collaboration across the food value chain to guarantee sustainable food supply and strengthen economic stability.

Sanwo-Olu said food was fundamental to human survival and economic development, stressing that governments at all levels must give the sector the attention and resources it deserves.

The Governor spoke on Thursday at the Lagos Food Systems Nexus 2026, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

The event, themed “Food Security Is Not an Agricultural Problem: Connecting the Dots,” brought together stakeholders to examine the interconnected factors shaping food production, distribution, investment and economic opportunities.

Sanwo-Olu said his administration remained committed to implementing its five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap through sustained funding and strategic partnerships with the private sector, other state governments and the Federal Government.

He urged farmers, agribusiness operators, investors and other stakeholders to participate actively in implementing the roadmap, noting that government interventions alone would not achieve the desired results without the involvement of those operating within the sector.

The Governor described the gathering as an important platform for examining the future of food production and distribution, assuring participants that his administration would continue to support initiatives that improve livelihoods, strengthen the food economy and create opportunities for young people.

Speaking further, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said food security could not be achieved by focusing exclusively on farming but required attention to the entire food value chain.

Drawing on her experience in public service over the past seven and a half years, Olusanya said the food economy extended beyond agricultural production to include processing, marketing, transportation, technology, distribution and the businesses connecting food producers with consumers.

She cited businesses such as Amoke Oge and Chowdeck as examples of how the evolving food economy was creating opportunities beyond traditional farming.

According to her, Nigeria has abundant entrepreneurial talent, particularly among young people, but requires an enabling environment that allows businesses to thrive, expand and create employment.

Reflecting on the achievements of young entrepreneurs featured at the event, the Commissioner said their experiences demonstrated the potential of Nigeria’s emerging food economy and the capacity of young people to build successful enterprises despite prevailing economic challenges.

She acknowledged that the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, had provided grants and supported the development of an innovation ecosystem, but noted that the entrepreneurs deserved credit for taking risks, expanding their businesses and creating opportunities for others.

Olusanya argued that increasing agricultural production alone could not guarantee food security, explaining that a country could produce more food and still experience food shortages if other components of its food system remained weak.

She said this understanding informed the five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap developed early in the Sanwo-Olu administration, adding that the Lagos Food Systems Nexus represented a culmination of the state’s efforts to rethink agriculture and expand its economic possibilities.

The Commissioner said the 2026 gathering was designed to encourage collaboration among government institutions, private sector operators, academic institutions, multilateral organisations and development partners.

She stressed that achieving food security required a coordinated approach that recognised the commercial opportunities within the food economy while addressing structural challenges limiting its growth.

Olusanya expressed appreciation to Governor Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for supporting the Ministry’s efforts to explore innovative approaches to agriculture and food systems development.

Olusanya urged participants to approach the discussions with fresh perspectives, identify opportunities beyond their respective professional fields and recognise the importance of collaboration in building a stronger food economy.

She maintained that Nigeria’s food systems could not be transformed using outdated perceptions of agriculture, stressing that the future required an integrated approach connecting production with innovation, investment, enterprise development and economic growth.