The Lagos State Government reaffirms its commitment to educating market men and women on hygiene, food safety, and market system efficiency to combat food insecurity. Speaking at a sensitization program held at the Lagos Fresh Food Agro-Hub in Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, the Commissioner for Agriculture, emphasized the importance of structured market systems in addressing food wastage and insecurity nationwide.
Over 500 market traders from Ikeja and Oshodi local government areas attended the event, focusing on market hygiene, food safety, cleanliness, storage, marketing, and transportation. Olusanya stressed the need for market participants to adapt to modern trading practices suitable for a 21st-century Lagos.
The initiative aims to enhance services at the fresh food hub while fostering inclusivity and accountability. Olusanya highlighted the importance of personalized engagement with market women to address their needs and promote transparency in governance.
Additionally, she called for increased collaboration among food-producing states to tackle food insecurity collectively. Highlighting the integral role of trade in agriculture, the commissioner emphasized the state government’s investment in supporting market systems as the final stage of the food supply chain.
Aderonke Apena, Head of Market and Waste Services at the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), reiterated zero tolerance for indiscriminate waste disposal in markets or streets. She emphasized the importance of waste containerization and separation to maintain market hygiene standards.
Alhaja Adijat Apena and Alhaja Sekinat Afeyanju, market leaders from Ikeja and Oshodi-Isolo local government areas respectively, commended the government’s efforts and pledged to uphold cleanliness standards in their markets.
The sensitization program underscores the government’s holistic approach to improving market systems and ensuring a cleaner, safer environment for traders and consumers alike.
