The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has partnered with the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems to drive investment in the Red Meat and Coconut value chains.
A two-day Investment Roundtable, held on Tuesday at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, focused on validating key investment proposals under the Lagos State Red Meat Initiative and the Coconut Value Chain Programme.
The initiative builds on extensive technical support provided through the FAO Technical Cooperation Project, “Technical Support for Feasibility and Value Chain Analysis of Lagos State Cattle Feedlot Farm Estate,” and the FAO–UNIDO-supported Coconut Value Chain Programme. Both initiatives produced detailed economic and financial analyses, now requiring stakeholder support for resource mobilization and implementation.
Ms Abisola Olusanya, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, expressed appreciation for FAO’s role in boosting both value chains. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Audu, she commended FAO for its continued technical partnership and commitment to building a modern, competitive, and investment-ready agri-food economy in Lagos.
“Today’s gathering is not just another meeting; it is a deliberate matchmaking platform to translate value chain analysis into bankable investments, connect financiers with viable projects, and unlock productivity, jobs, industrialisation, and food security,” Olusanya said.
She highlighted the growing population and consumption demand in Lagos State, emphasizing the need for the food economy to grow accordingly.
“Lagos is one of Nigeria’s largest consumer markets for beef. The FAO-supported assessment estimates Lagos State requires about 1,873,667 heads of cattle annually, while local production falls short, relying heavily on supply from outside the state,” she said.
On the coconut value chain, Olusanya noted that Lagos produces about 60 percent of Nigeria’s domestic output, approximately 135,000 MT of 225,500 MT in 2020. Despite this, Nigeria still imports nearly 400,000 MT of coconuts, much of which enters through Badagry.
“This indicates massive demand and a real opportunity for import substitution and value addition, especially if productivity and nut availability for processors improve,” she said.
Olusanya said Lagos offers investors key advantages: a large market, an active private sector, improving infrastructure, and government commitment to reforms.
“In both value chains, evidence shows that actors can be profitable when systems work efficiently and standards are strengthened. Our role as government is clear: to set the rules, enable investments, coordinate stakeholders, protect consumers, and ensure sustainability,” she added.
Dr Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, represented by FAO Programme Officer Mr Tofiq Braimah, described Lagos as strategic for national food security.
“This gathering is a defining moment in our shared commitment to transform agriculture and food systems in Lagos State and Nigeria. Lagos is more than Nigeria’s economic nerve centre—it is a gateway to regional and global markets, a hub of innovation, and a melting pot of opportunities,” he said.
Gadain noted that FAO’s collaboration with Lagos is anchored on strategic investment analysis in key value chains, including coconut, livestock, and feedlot systems, to attract private sector and multilateral investments.
“These analyses provide evidence-based insights that guide strategic decisions, ensuring investments are impactful, sustainable, and inclusive. This initiative is about building an integrated economic ecosystem connecting production, processing, logistics, and trade,” he added.
Mr Emmanuel Audu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, represented by the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Rasheed Macaulay, said Lagos is ready for the investments. Audu emphasized that FAO’s collaboration reflects a shared commitment to move from policy dialogue to practical, investment-driven solutions for food systems transformation.
