.as LASG plans to commission Largest Food Logistics Hub In sub-Saharan Africa
By Our Reporter
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that the Lagos Rice Mill, Imota, produced more than 500,000 bags of Eko Rice within the past year as the state intensifies efforts to strengthen food security and local rice production.
This was just as the state government announced plans to commission the first phase of what it described as the largest food logistics hub in Sub-Saharan Africa, as part of efforts to strengthen food security, reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise food supply across the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, disclosed this on Friday during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.
The commissioner described the Imota Rice Mill as the largest in Africa and the third largest globally, noting that the facility remained a major pillar of the state government’s food systems transformation agenda.
Olusanya said the 22-hectare mill, commissioned in 2023, has the capacity to produce 2.4 million 50kg bags of rice annually while generating 1,500 direct jobs and about 254,000 indirect jobs across the rice value chain.
She said the state government had continued to optimise operations at the mill while strengthening partnerships with smallholder rice farmers across Nigeria to improve paddy supply and maximise production capacity.
To support rice production, the commissioner disclosed that the ministry cultivated 100 hectares of rice fields at Eggua, another 100 hectares at Agonrin and over 100 hectares at Ganyingbo, adding that the government also provided agricultural inputs to local rice farmers to boost paddy production and improve yields.
Olusanya further revealed that the state launched Eko Fortified Rice in late 2025 as part of efforts to combat malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, especially among children.
According to her, the fortified rice is enriched with essential vitamins and minerals aimed at improving public health without altering consumers’ dietary habits.
"Under the year in review, the Lagos Rice Mill Imota produced over 500,000 50kg bags of Eko Rice and continues to contribute to the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President," she said.
The commissioner noted that the state government remained committed to expanding agricultural infrastructure and strengthening local food production as part of broader efforts to reduce dependence on food imports and stabilise food supply.
Olusanya said Lagos would continue investing in strategic projects across rice production, aquaculture, food logistics and market systems to build a resilient and sustainable food economy
Speaking on the Lagos Central Food Systems and Logistics Hub located in Ketu-Ereyun, Epe, set for commissioning, Olusanya said it was designed as a modern, technology-driven facility that would transform the way food is transported, stored, processed and distributed within Lagos.
The commissioner said the project would become a major food distribution gateway for the state upon completion, with the capacity to service more than 1,500 trucks daily and support the handling of over 1.5 million metric tonnes of food annually.
She explained that the facility would include cold and dry storage systems, warehousing facilities, processing and repackaging centres, truck parks, aggregation facilities, quality control laboratories and digital trading platforms aimed at improving efficiency within the food value chain.
Olusanya noted that Lagos, regarded as Nigeria’s largest food market, currently faces challenges linked to supply chain disruptions, high transportation costs, poor storage infrastructure and post-harvest losses due to the heavy dependence on food supplies from outside the state.
She said the logistics hub was conceived as a strategic response to those challenges, adding that the project is scheduled for commissioning this year.
"Today, I am pleased to inform you that the first phase of the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub is scheduled for commissioning this year.
"This will mark a major turning point in Lagos State’s food systems transformation journey and demonstrate that Lagos is responding to food security challenges through long-term infrastructure," she stated.
According to the commissioner, the hub is expected to improve food aggregation, reduce waste, lower logistics costs and support more stable food prices across the state, adding that the project would also create employment opportunities in transportation, warehousing, cold-chain systems, food processing, packaging, retail, food safety and technology services.
She further added that the project would also create employment opportunities in transportation, warehousing, cold-chain systems, food processing, packaging, retail, food safety and technology services.
Olusanya said the state government was complementing the logistics hub with other initiatives, including the Produce for Lagos programme, middle-level agro-produce hubs and the N500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund aimed at building a more structured and resilient food economy.
She stressed that the government’s long-term objective was to position Lagos as Africa’s leading food systems hub through coordinated investments in infrastructure, logistics and market systems.
"We are building a complete food systems architecture where food is produced efficiently, transported safely, stored properly and made accessible at stable and affordable prices," the commissioner said.
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