Lagos, Niger mull partnership on agro value chain   

Niger State and Lagos State have commenced discussions that may see both states going into partnership to expand opportunities in agricultural commodity value chain to the benefit of their economies.

Although details of the discussions remained scanty as at Wednesday, when Akinwunmi Ambode and Abubakar Bello, governors of both states met, it was however, gathered that it bordered on food security and job opportunities in agricultural sector.

Bello, who was at the State House, Ikeja, told journalists that his discussion with Ambode revolved round exploring the comparative advantage of both states to the benefit of their economies.

“We discussed agriculture and we specifically discussed how we can partner with Lagos State to support agriculture to the benefit of Lagos State and Nigeria at large,” he said, saying the modalities on this would be worked out in later days.

It would be recalled that early this year, Lagos State government also entered into partnership with Kebbi State on development of agricultural commodity value chain.

The agreement aside aiming to expand local rice production thereby reducing dependence on imported rice, also centred on boosting the production of wheat, ground nut, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane and dairy product.

“We must start to reintegrate our economy in such a manner that we must not continue to import what we can produce and we must create a value chain where we have comparative advantage to do so,” Ambode had said with respect to the deal struck with Kebbi State.