Food security, investment: Ambode meets Irish envoy, Dubai investors

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Wednesday, said the state was looking towards partnership in agro business in an effort geared towards ensuring food security in the state.
The governor, who spoke when he received the Irish Ambassador, Sean Hoy, at the Lagos House, Alausa, said his administration was looking to expand the agricultural sector and increase the production capacity of its farmers in the nearest future.
“One area that Lagos is really interested in is in the agro business, I am very interested in the food security of this state. We have a population that is over 20 million and we should be able to plan properly the food security of the state.
“We cannot claim that we are self sufficient right now, but we have a plan to be able to let us feed ourselves at some point in time. It’s quite unfortunate right now that the state consumes almost like N300 billion worth of rice annually and what we have in terms of production is maybe like five per cent.
“We are looking for a situation where we would expand the potential of our farmers and cross into other states and be able to produce staple products for the people of Lagos. So, if we have any partnership that can assist us in securing the future of our people in terms of agro business, it will be highly welcomed”, the governor said.
Ambode, who also met with a team of investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), led by Professor Pat Utomi, restated the commitment of his administration to evolve policies and initiatives that would transform the city state into a destination for investors across the globe.
He said in less than 100 days of his administration, efforts have been made to create an atmosphere for investors to look towards the direction of the state and for existing businesses to thrive.
“We’ve already created an Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment to directly deal with issues that relate to investors coming into Lagos.
“We are committed to a situation where we would create a new city where Africans and especially Nigerians in diaspora can be proud of and then, we also can be proud of”, he said.
He said that the state’s commercial strength with a population predominantly youths, makes it unarguably the home of the future of investment in Nigeria, assuring the investors of his administration’s support in the areas they intend to partner with the government.
“We are happy to be associated with you. I want to give you our government’s commitment today that we are committed to the project that is being done by Smart City Dubai and other investors. We are also committed to giving government support in areas that would make investments easy.
“I want to let you know Professor Pat Utomi is somebody that has had endless passion to make this kind of investment happen in Lagos State. He’s been a major promoter of investment in Lagos and one is so excited. I want to commend you for being part of this initiative”, he said.
Ambode also restated his commitment to the rule of law as well as judicial and security sector reforms, saying the efforts are geared towards ensuring that business transactions are done transparently.
“We would give credence to integrity of this government to make sure that whatever is being done will protect Lagos as well as investors. That’s what we are committed to. Wherever it is that we can be of help to accelerate the delivery of the project, we would do it.
“I have no doubt that wherever Professor Utomi is involved, it comes with a huge sense of integrity and that’s why we would ensure that every aspect of this project is expanded, because I am made to understand is that whatever it is that you have done, you need government’s commitment also”, the governor said.
Utomi said the group of investors from the UAE is aspiring to play a role that will significantly change the business climate in the state, revealing that they are looking to invest as much as $10 billion in the state within a period of time.
“Smart City Dubai, which has a track record of transforming a desert village in one generation to world’s business hub, my hope and my expectation is that this initiative will make that happen for Lagos and be part of the inspiration along with other projects that you are driving, Eko Atlantic and a host of others”, he said.