Hon. Ogunleye Gbolahan Adetokunbo(OGA), Chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Investments and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has declared that addressing food insecurity has become the “number one” priority for Lagos residents.

Speaking at the Lagos State House of Assembly’s 9th Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting held in Ipakodo, Ikorodu, Gbolahan emphasized the urgent need for collective action to tackle rising food prices and scarcity.

“To achieve food sufficiency, our farming capacity must be widened, involving everyone, especially the youth, with the skills, knowledge, and resources to drive agriculture, innovation, and entrepreneurship within every community,” he said.

Gbolahan also called on constituents with landed property to prioritize agricultural use, encouraging participation in farming activities.

The lawmaker highlighted the Lagos House of Assembly’s support for farming through laws like the anti-open grazing legislation, creating an enabling environment for farming to thrive.

Hon. SOB Agunbiade, former Majority Leader and representative of Ikorodu Constituency 1, stressed that food production is a collective business, urging Community Development Associations to focus on their areas of comparative advantage.

Dr. Nurudeen Agbaje, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Rural Development, noted that residents shouldn’t wait for large land holdings to start farming, emphasizing that government alone cannot solve the food insecurity challenge.

The stakeholders meeting brought together traditional, religious, and political leaders, youth groups, artisans, and other stakeholders.