The Lagos State government says it will continue sensitising market men, women and traders on hygiene, food safety, preservation, storage, marketing, and transportation in market systems to address food insecurity.

Abisola Olusanya, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, stated this at a sensitisation programme at the Lagos Fresh Food Agro-Hub in Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos, on Saturday. 

She said well-structured market systems would address wastage and other food insecurity issues in the country.

Over 500 market men and women from Ikeja and Oshodi local government areas attended the programme on sensitisation on market hygiene, food safety, cleanliness, storage, marketing and transportation.

She noted that there was a need for market men and women to unlearn and relearn the act of trading, selling and merchandising hygiene in a 21st century Lagos.

The commissioner said the fresh food hub would continue improving its services as a pilot project in the state.

“The idea is that as we have the hub, and it becomes operationalised little by little, we must sensitise and train market men and women to understand that this is the new direction for a 21st century Lagos of our dreams.

“It is for them to understand that this is how it should be; they need to unlearn and relearn the act of trading and the act of selling and merchandising hygiene and more.

“It is also an avenue for the government to have a one-to-one personalised interaction with the market women and to also hear and address their needs, local government by local government and community by community,” she said.

The commissioner also called for more partnerships among food-producing states to address the problem associated with food insecurity. 

Ms Olusanya said that trade is an integral part of agriculture. Hence, the state government invests in and supports its market systems.

Aderonke Apena, the head of market and waste services at Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), said there was zero tolerance for indiscriminate dumping of waste in market space or streets. 

She said anybody caught would be apprehended and prosecuted accordingly.

Adijat Apena, Iyaloja General (market leader), Ikeja Local Government Area, commended the state government for organising the programme.

Also, Sekinat Afeyanju, Iyaloja General, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, urged her members to maintain high standards of cleanliness to avoid their markets being shut.

(NAN)