By Olayinka Olawale

The Lagos State Government says its Agricultural Value Chains Enterprise Activation Programme for farmers, food processors, producers and marketers will increase revenue generation in the state.

Ms Abisola Olusanya, State Commissioner for Agriculture, stated this at the presentation of the 2022 Agricultural Value Chains Enterprise Support Programme to beneficiaries on Tuesday in Surulere Local Government Area Secretariat, Lagos.

Olusanya said the ministry recorded N1.2 billion revenue in 2022.

She disclosed with increased empowerment over N3 billion would be generated in terms of revenue by end of 2023.

Olusanya said the empowerment would enhance activities for the Lagos Inland Revenue Services, thereby increasing the entire state’s revenue pool.

She said the empowerment was targeted at appreciating farmers by supporting them with inputs that would in turn increase food production and provide sustainable livelihood.

She said that the ministry was using the big 20 LGA for the distribution adding the entire 37 LCDA would also benefit.

“Today we have beneficiaries representing Surulere LGA, Itire-Ikate LCDA, Coker-Aguda LCDA as well as Mushin LGA and Odi-Olowo LCDA,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the empowerment include live bird delivery truck, smoking kilns, electric de-feathering machines, grinding machine and  hand cutting machine.

Others are deep freezer, generating set, herbicides, pesticides, knapsack sprayers, kerosene stove, fertiliser and wheelbarrows, among others.

NAN also reports that over 20,000 farmers, fishermen, food processors, producers and marketers would benefit under the 2022 Agricultural Value Chains Enterprise  Support Programme in the state.

“One thing is sacrosanct, we are here to support our farmers, we are here to make them happy and increase food production.

“For revenue generation for 2022, the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture recorded N1.2 billion and I remember at the food festival I said hopefully that in 2023 we should be touching N3 billion in terms of revenue.

“The empowerment agricultural enterprise activation programme that is being done is supporting processing, producers and marketers.

“The hope is for them to be able to increase food production, add more value to the food thereby making more margins for processors and for marketers to have easier access to sell to consumers.

“We have live bird marketers here today walking away with a full truck and de-feathering machine.

“The hope is that with these people registering with the LIRS, the entire Lagos state revenue pool will increase,” she said.



She added that the empowerment programme would create more stability caused by elections thereby increasing the revenue generation

“The stakeholders we have here today not all of them will necessarily pay in terms of revenue generation to the Ministry of Agriculture to Lagos state.

“Some will go directly to the LIRS, so you will have direct and indirect revenue.

“The most important thing and what is at the forefront of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is wealth creation for the people.

“Also, job creation for the people and creating an enabling environment that ensure that the  food systems are more secure toward generation.

“We know that with elections that have happened this year, it actually took away bit of resources in terms of people moving out in different directions.

“Generally, during election period there’s a bit of uncertainty in the air, so you see people withdrawing investment in the space,

“Obviously, in terms of revenue generation, you will see a decline in the space but now, I want to believe that everything is over now.

“With inauguration to happen soon, there will be a lot of stability in the system and in the second half of 2023, we should see an increase in the revenue generation across board.

“With the massive infrastructure development Babajide Sanwo-Olu is doing not just in agriculture alone, in works, housing, technology, health, education, environment, it is the hope that the revenue generation of the state will continue to expand,“ she said.

Mr Sulaiman Yusuf, the Chairman, Surulere Local Government Area, commended the state for empowering the people, thereby increasing revenue generation.

Yusuf was represented by Mr Muiz Dosunmu, the Vice Chairman, in the council.

“We appreciate the continual support of the governor for the upliftment of our people. We are sure that the next four years will be a marvelous one for the citizenry,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Alhaja Olosola Osoba, President, Live Bird Marketers Association, Lagos State, thanked the state government for empowering the association with a truck and 15 electric de-feathering machines.

Osoba told NAN that the empowerment would upgrade the operations of the members to modern practice.

“We are very happy for the support we received today from the government, it is a big surprise for us.

“With the empowerment, our members will no longer use their hands to de-feather birds, they will use electric machine.

“The electric de-feathering machine is safe, faster, convenient and hygienic,” she said.

Also, Alhaji Lateef  Adelodun, the President, Lagos State Plank and Building Materials Marketers Association of Nigeria, lauded the effort of the state government.

Adelodun urged the state government to support its members with plain and circular machine in order to meet market demand.

“We are appealing to the state government to include us as beneficiaries in the 2023 empowerment programme,” Adelodun said.