The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated recently that the state has about 2million coconut trees with an annual production of 200million husked nuts worth about 10Million Naira.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, made this statement at the Maiden Edition of the International Coconut Summit held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos Southwest Nigeria.
In his speech, Sanwo Olu noted that the state had the potential of more than 10million coconut trees with an annual production of 1billion husked nuts worth about 50millon Naira. He added that Lagos State is the hub of the coconut value chain not only in Nigeria but the entire west coast of Africa.
The Governor pledged the state government’s support to prospective investors in the coconut value chain, assuring them of bountiful return on their investments.
According to him, the state government would encourage the commercializing of coconut for both local and export markets in the seed nuts and seedling production.
It has been established that the coconut value chain contributes significantly to the economy of the country because it is being grown in commercial quantity in more than 22 states of the federation.
“Coconut is one of the greatest gifts of nature to man because it exhibits a wide range of production value perhaps the most useful tree in the world.
It grows naturally along the coastal terrain and it is also cultivated in about 92 countries of the world. Lagos State among others is naturally blessed with a vast coconut belt made up of 180km coastal line and about 703.19km on the island. There is a compelling need for economic diversification, greater emphasis on agriculture in general and coconut value chain particularly Lagos State” the Governor noted
Obans Mutiat Harriet
Senior Information Officer
FIC – Lagos
