Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has said that food worth at least N3 billion is being consumed daily by 22 million residents of Lagos State, representing N1.095 trillion spent on food items annually in the state. Meantime, Vice President of Dangote Group, Sanni Dangote, disclosed that Nigeria can save $700 million spent annually on table salt importation saying that 90 percent of the salt consumed in Nigeria is imported, thereby, boosting other countries economy.
Ambode, disclosed this yesterday, at the maiden edition of Lagos food security summit and exhibition, themed, ‘Actualizing sustainable food security in Lagos State: A new comprehensive agenda,’ held in Ikeja, which also had in attendance, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, representative, Richardson Okechukwu and others. Ambode noted that Lagos State is key factor in the country’s agricultural value chain and the largest consumer of food produce in the country.
On the summit, the governor said it was organized to serve as a platform for stakeholders in Agricultural sector to address the challenges militating against food security in Lagos. Lagos, foreign investors preferred choice Also, the governor, yesterday at another forum, stated that the State has become the preferred choice destination for foreign investors with a number of new investments in hospitality, health, shopping malls and others.
He disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the EU-Nigeria Business Forum 2016 held at the Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, noting that the State’s Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment also known as ‘Lagos Global’ is providing the desired support services to both existing and potential investors in this regard. Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, Ambode reiterated that investment opportunities abound in Lagos and that investors are guaranteed adequate government’s support.
Dangote on table salt importation Dangote lamented that the fund expended by the country annually, on consumable salt could help reduce the rate of unemployment and boost the country’s economy. According to him, “It is pathetic that 90 percent of salts consumed in Nigeria today are imported despite the availability of Atlantic Ocean in the country.”
He explained that there is a technology that could help extract salt from water collected from the Atlantic Ocean. His words, “And this will allow the country to keep $700 million spent, annually from importing salt. I believe that the opportunity is still open for us to quickly tap into this investment. This is opportunity for Lagos to tap into.’’
