The Lagos State Government says the disbursement of the promised N750 million Lagos Trader Money to 15,000 traders across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas in the state will commence this month.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, stated this at the weekend while fielding questions during the Lagos Food Systems’ Champions Sensitisation for Market Women at the Mid-level Agro-Produce Hub in Idi-Oro, Mushin.
The PUNCH reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the financial intervention during the unveiling of the Mid-level Agro-Produce Hub at Idi-Oro, in the Mushin area of the state in December 2023.
The governor had said, “The government has come up with an intervention for all market men and women. The Market/Trader Money is for 15,000 beneficiaries as support. Each beneficiary will get N50,000 from the government. Each local government will submit 200 names”.
Speaking to newsmen at the weekend, the agric commissioner said, “The N750 million Lagos Trader Money programme aimed at supporting 15,000 market men and women across 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas in the state will take off this month”.
Olusanya further stated that the state government will create more food hubs across the state to generate more employment opportunities for residents, especially women.
She added that creating more food hubs would help empower small farms to take advantage of growing opportunities in the agricultural sector.
She noted that apart from controlling waste, the development of agri-food hubs would strengthen the state’s food security by stimulating the agricultural industry.
“The development of agri-food hubs will also boost the development of exports of agricultural products”, Olusanya said.
She explained that “the purpose of setting up agro logistics food hubs remains enhancing product quality and exploring markets to ensure the continued growth of the sector”, adding that the government was working with local government councils to expand packaging facilities.
The commissioner noted that the proposed Fresh Food Agro-Hubs for Agege and Ajah along with the Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub will be open to the markets, in addition to increasing agricultural output and uplifting the livelihoods of farmers and the wider community.
