Lagos working on setting up ranches, says commissioner

Bisola Olusanya, Lagos commissioner for agriculture, says the state is working on setting up ranches to improve food security and key into the red meat sector.

Olusanya said the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, is focused on building a market structure that ensures transformation in the food system.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, the commissioner said the state has competitive advantage in the red meat sector.

“The administration of Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu is focused on enforcing a market structure or bringing together a market structure that ensures transformation in the food systems,” she said on Friday.

“Lagos will like to concentrate in areas we have the competitive and the comparative advantage like fisheries and red meat. We do not produce red meat, but we would like to expand on what we can do within the red meat sector.

“Lagos consumes over 1.8 million heads of cattle on an annual basis, we consume over 6000 heads of cattle on a daily basis. When you consider the transactional value for cattle alone for Lagos, it is over N 328 billion, but we are producing nothing.

“But what stops us from setting up ranches in this state, we are the largest market, it also makes sense that we set up ranches such that we are closer to the market, and remove the logistics cost.

“We are working on setting up ranches, and will be rolling out expression of interest next week, calling on investors.”