The Eggs Sellers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (ESDAN) has commended the Lagos State Government for establishing the Agege Fresh Food Hub.
However, the association urged the government to include its members in the supply and distribution of eggs at the facility.
The National President of ESDAN, Mrs. Olaide Graham, made this call in an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Lagos.
It was reported that the Lagos State Government recently inaugurated the Agege Fresh Food Hub to address post-harvest losses and enhance food security.
This facility is the third in the state, following the Fresh Food Hub in Mushin, commissioned in December 2023, and the Abijo hub, inaugurated earlier this year.
The hubs aim to shorten supply chains, reduce intermediation, improve produce handling, and make food distribution more efficient.
Graham praised the government for establishing the hubs and expressed ESDAN’s readiness to partner to ensure access to quality, affordable eggs.
“We at ESDAN congratulate the Lagos State Government, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems on the launch of the Agege Food Hub.
“It is a great initiative. It’s more than a market; it’s jobs, food, and the future.
“ESDAN, as the registered egg distributor in Nigeria, is ready to work with this hub to ensure every Lagos resident has access to quality and affordable eggs,” Graham said.
She noted that ESDAN was invited to the hub’s commissioning but was not asked to supply eggs for the event.
“We were present at the commissioning, but we don’t know if we’ll be contracted to supply eggs as an association.
“All eggs displayed at the hub during the launch were supplied by farmers. They didn’t ask ESDAN to bring eggs.
“We want the government to partner with ESDAN. Eggs are Nigeria’s most affordable complete protein,” she emphasized.
Graham reaffirmed ESDAN’s commitment to supplying quality eggs if contracted.
“Members can guarantee daily supplies to the hub. We will ensure quality, traceability, and data for the state’s food security planning.
“Our request includes Official Supplier Status as the preferred egg supplier for the hubs, dedicated spaces, cold rooms, processing facilities, and priority contracts for school feeding and institutional buyers,” she stated.
Graham also expressed ESDAN’s desire to be involved alongside farmers in egg supply at the hubs.
“We have been invited to supply eggs during glut seasons and believe we are capable of handling supply at the food hubs.
“This will boost the poultry value chain,” she added.
She concluded by stating that ESDAN is open to discussions with the government to professionally supply produce to the hubs.
