By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State Government has vowed to flood the state’s markets with affordable rice during the upcoming Yuletide, ensuring that residents can access quality rice at lower prices.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this announcement at the 5th Lagos Food Festival, which took place on Sunday evening at Victoria Island.
The event celebrated the state’s efforts to empower the food production industry, with a focus on fostering both local businesses and food producers.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, while participating in a cooking skills exhibition, expressed his satisfaction with the event’s growing success.
He emphasised that the festival was not just about food, but also about creating valuable networking opportunities for participants.
“The event is not just about food; it’s about the dignitaries who visit, giving people the opportunity to launch their products and exhibit their skills,” he stated.
Sanwo-Olu praised the partnership between the government and private sector in making the event a resounding success, calling it “another government-private sector collaboration and one of the many things that make Lagos unique.”
The Governor also commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems for its support in ensuring the success of the festival, noting that the event had evolved from a modest initiative to a major platform for local food producers.
“I am extremely happy today because of the patronage. People now come to the event, make presentations, and form meaningful connections,” Sanwo-Olu added.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, revealed that the government will soon be distributing Eko Rice across the state at significantly reduced prices.
“Eko Rice will be available in the market within the next week and a half. Some quantities are already in circulation, but more will be available soon,” Olusanya said, assuring residents that the rice would be sold below current market prices.
Olusanya also highlighted the government’s ongoing five-year agriculture program, which aims to make food more affordable for Lagosians, and emphasized the state’s commitment to supporting all stakeholders in the food value chain, from farmers to consumers.
“With the infrastructure you see around and the efforts we’re making to support our farmers, we are working diligently to ensure the prices of food items are reduced,” she stated.
