Sam Philip
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed on Saturday that the Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Hub, and the Psychiatric Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute, both at the Ketu Ejirin axis in Epe area of the State, would be ready next year.
He said the Phase One of the 220-hectares Lagos Food Logistic Hub will be ready in the second quarter of 2025, while the first phase of the psychiatric hospital will be delivered in the last quarter of next year.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed the dates for the completion of the two projects during a working visit with members of the State Executive Council, government officials, and journalists to the Food Logistics and Psychiatric Hospital in the Keju-Ejirin, Ketu area of Lagos State.
He said the Lagos State Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Hub, which is the largest in the Sub-Sahara of Africa, will ensure food sufficiency for Lagosians and stabilise market prices when completed next year.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who expressed satisfaction at the pace of the project at the Central Food Hub, which will have large cold and dry chain storage, assured residents that when completed, food prices would be reduced by a significant amount in Lagos market as the State Government is committed to food sustainability and food security.
He also assured Lagos residents that the ongoing Middle-Level Market being constructed at the Ajah, Festac and Oregun areas of Lagos State will soon be completed, and they are expected to get feed from the Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Hub.
The Governor also restated the commitment of his administration to mitigate shortages and protect residents from food insecurity, saying the Central Food Logistics Hub would be divided into many facilities, among which are a truck park and the largest abattoir in Africa, which can house 14,000 cattle when completed.
He said, “We are on track. Phase one of the project should be ready by the second quarter of next year. It will be fully sufficient with electricity and a road network that can make it operational.
“What we are doing is writing our destiny gradually with our hands. We want Lagosians, citizens of Lagos, to have the ability to have what we call food sufficiency and food adequacy, and what it will do for us is that it will help us to stabilise prices so that prices will not skyrocket unnecessarily.
Speaking earlier, Prince Samuel Joseph Samuel, the Managing Director of Origin Technology Group, who is partnering with Lagos State Government to build the food logistic hub, expressed confidence that the project will transform the entire Ketu-Ejinrin and its environment and have a positive effect on the economy of Lagos, particularly the agricultural sector.
Prince Samuel commended the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration for its commitment and support towards the completion of the Lagos Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Hub.
He expressed confidence that the project would sustain itself in the near future.
Speaking to journalists during the inspection of the psychiatric hospital, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the 500-bed accommodation hospital, with facilities that include consultation rooms, among others, would address mental-related issues in patients.
He said the project, which is expected to be completed in the next 12 months, would address the challenges of drug abuse victims in the state as well as provide psychosocial support to residents.
“It will be the biggest and the largest psychiatric and rehabilitation centre in the entire sub-Saharan Africa. Phase one is a 500-bed facility, and all the structures for phase one are out, including the 500-bed accommodation in different sizes, consultation rooms, dormitories, dining rooms, kitchens, health facilities, and recreational activities. It is a massive institute on 25 hectares of land.
“We believe that this aspect of our health delivery is equally important. We believe that we have seen the worst health challenges in terms of mental health issues, and we need to make a classic case of this and make sure that it is first in class so that people can come in for psychotherapy and psycho-rehabilitation and get well in a serene and decent environment,” he said.