Nigeria is preparing to commission what is expected to become Africa’s largest food logistics hub as Lagos State accelerates efforts to modernise food distribution systems, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen national food security.

The Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub, located in Ketu-Ereyun in Epe, is scheduled to begin phased operations before the end of 2026, according to Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya.

The project forms part of the state government’s broader strategy to build an integrated food systems network capable of supporting Nigeria’s rapidly growing urban population while improving agricultural supply chains.

Once operational, the facility is expected to handle more than 1.5 million metric tonnes of food annually and accommodate over 1,500 trucks per day, positioning Lagos as one of Africa’s leading food distribution and agribusiness centres.

The hub will include cold storage facilities, dry warehousing systems, quality control laboratories, food processing centres, truck parks, digital trading platforms and repackaging units designed to improve efficiency across the agricultural value chain.

Officials say the infrastructure is intended to address long-standing challenges linked to food transportation, spoilage, market access and price instability, particularly in Nigeria’s major urban centres.

The development reflects growing investment across Africa in logistics and post-harvest infrastructure as governments seek to reduce food losses and strengthen domestic food systems.

According to Olusanya, Lagos State is focusing not only on agricultural production but also on the systems needed to move, preserve, process and market food efficiently.

Lagos remains Nigeria’s largest food consumption market, with the state estimating its food economy at approximately ₦16.14 trillion annually.

To support the initiative, the state has also activated a ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund under the Produce for Lagos programme. The fund aims to de-risk agricultural investments while supporting farmers, aggregators, logistics operators, processors and agribusiness investors through guaranteed market access and financing support.

The logistics hub complements several large-scale agricultural infrastructure projects already underway in Lagos, including the Imota Rice Mill, agro-produce centres and aquaculture development programmes.

The Imota Rice Mill, regarded as Africa’s largest rice mill, reportedly produced more than 500,000 bags of Eko Rice during the review period as the state continues efforts to improve local rice production and processing capacity.

Meanwhile, the Lagos Fresh Food Hub in Mushin has emerged as a significant distribution platform, generating more than ₦1.2 billion in transactions since launching market operations in 2025.

State officials say more than 7,000 jobs have already been created directly and indirectly through various agricultural and food system initiatives, with further employment expected as logistics and processing capacity expands.

Youth-focused agricultural programmes are also being scaled up through training initiatives aimed at supporting agripreneurs, food processors and small-scale agricultural businesses.

Industry observers say the Lagos logistics project reflects a broader continental shift toward integrated food systems as African governments increasingly prioritise cold-chain development, storage infrastructure and supply-chain modernisation to improve food security and reduce import dependence.

The expansion of logistics infrastructure is also expected to create new opportunities in processing, packaging, mechanisation, digital agriculture and food retail as Nigeria seeks to attract greater private-sector participation into agriculture and agribusiness.

Officials believe the project could become a model for large-scale food distribution infrastructure across Africa as urban food demand continues to rise rapidly across the continent.