Lagos Govt Takes Measures to Curb Rising Cost of Food as Retreat for Ministry of Agric Ends

…Commissioner charges staff to redouble efforts in implementing policies

The Lagos State Government has reassured residents that necessary measures are being taken to address the rising cost of food items and other consumables in the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya gave this assurance at the end of the two-day retreat for the Management staff of the Ministry held at the Orchid Hotels in Lekki.

She said that part of the measures in curbing the high cost of food in the metropolis was the recent Market Trader Money launched by the Governor in which #750m was distributed to 15,000 residents.

According to her, the first Food Logistics Hub in West Africa in Ketu would soon be delivered while work will soon begin at the three more Agro Food Hubs in Agege, Abule Ado and Sangotedo.

She explained that the Agro Food Hub first established in Mushin is gradually returning value for money spent on food items by residents within a clean environment.

Abisola Olusanya however urged residents to reflect on the caution by the Governor against hoarding and unnecessary increase in the prices of food items in the state.

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola who thanked the staff of the ministry for their unalloyed support over the years charged them to redouble their efforts in the implementation of government policy and program.

He was of the view that their commitments to the success of the Agenda of the ministry was more important now due to the economic challenges confronting the country.

One of the Facilitators at the retreat, Dr Adebowale Oyebade who spoke on Wellness and Mental Health said that around 450m people around the world currently suffer from mental disorders while one in four people will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.

She listed some factors responsible for mental disorders to include; worsening economic issues, increasing unemployment rate, kidnapping, insurgency and influence of social Media.

Dr Oyebade who is from LASUTH however stressed the need for the participants to accord full priority to their health need in order to give their best during official duty.

The medical expert also wants the government to ensure that more Nigerians are covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme since their purchasing powers had been eroded over the years.

On how to promote mental health, Dr Oyebade advised the participants to engage in healthy habits, lifestyle, exercise, holiday from work, consumption of more water, fruits and vegetables.

A paper was also presented on Agricultural Economic Context in Nigeria (Trends in the food spaces) at the retreat.

In their reactions, some of the participants said that one of the ways to solve the current high cost of food in the country was for the government to improve on security around the farmlands as well as incentives to farmers.

They also called for collaboration among states in the areas of comparative advantage and improvement on transportation network of food items from farmlands to the market.