The Lagos State Government has announced that it will launch a N10 billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (LACE) in Igbonla, Epe.
The State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced on Tuesday during a public function where he was represented by his deputy Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
The governor said that the intiative expectedly will boost 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.
Sanwo-Olu also said that the state will assist fish farmers through the Lagos Nucleus Farms scheme, and also serve as an off-take point for other aquaculture clusters around the state. He also revealed that Lagos is also planning to open two other food production centres in Epe and Bagadry.
As part of plans, the Governor also stated that in addition to achieving food security, the state will promote agro-tourism in the state through the Lagos State Songhai Project in Badagry and the Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe.
In his words, “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.”
In Nigeria, fisheries is a major economic sector, estimated to employ over 8.6 million people directly and a further 19.6 million indirectly, 70 percent of whom are women. Currently, Nigeria produces just over 1 million metric tons of fish, leaving a deficit of over 800,000 metric tons, which is imported annually.
Nigeria is the largest aquaculture fish producer in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 52 percent of the total farmed fish production in the region. Nigeria’s aquaculture focuses mainly on freshwater fish, with catfish species accounting for 64 percent of aquaculture production
