Lagos State Partners Private Sector To Develop Aquaculture Industry
By Our Correspondent
The Lagos State Government has said it would soon launch a N10 billion Public\Private Partnership (PPP) Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (LACE) in Igbonla, Epe.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Tuesday at a public event where he was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
Sanwo-Olu said the scheme is expected to create development in the state’s aquaculture industry and produce 2,000 tonnes of fish annually in a centre that would be located on a 35-hectare land.
The Governor also noted that the state will provide support to the fish farmers through the Lagos Nucleus Farms scheme, and also serve as an off-take point for other aquaculture clusters around the state.
According to the Governor, the State is also planning to launch two other food production centres in Epe and Badagry, adding that apart from enabling food security, the State would promote agro-tourism through the Lagos State Songhai Project in Badagry and the Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe.
“The experience of the past few months during the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic has further reinforced the urgent need to expand the state’s food production base to meet such a spontaneous increase in demand for food in the future.
“In line with this realisation, and to ensure sustained food production and supply in the state, we are establishing Lagos Food Production Centres in Badagry and Epe.
“In addition, we are establishing the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (LACE) N10 billion project to be located on 35 hectares of land in Igbonla in Epe under a public\private partnership arrangement,”the Governor said.
