Mrs Abisola Olusanya, the Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos on Agriculture has decried the low production of coconuts in Badagry, Lagos.
Olusanya spoke at the Celebration of 2019 Coconut Festival tagged “Agunfest” held at Suntan Beach, Badagry on Saturday. The theme of the festival is: “Coconut Production and Utilisation; Dealing with Current Imperatives in view of Border closure’’.
According to her, just recently, the Federal Government ordered the closure of the entire country’s borders as one of the ways of patronising local produce goods and services to save foreign earnings.
“One of the consequences of enforcement of border closure is the overzealousness of some security operatives who have been allegedly reported to be harassing local producers and marketers of coconuts.
“The seizure of coconuts, harassment of local producers and marketers within this area is having adverse effects on local production of coconuts.
“There is a need for a comprehensive and robust stakeholders’ engagement along with coconut value chain so as to ensure that the good policy of the Federal Government on border closure will not impact negatively on coconut economy.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA) are working closely with other stakeholders toward proffering lasting solutions to the lingering crisis currently affecting the downstream sector of Coconut Value Chain,” she said.
Adesanya said that the government had been involved in the rehabilitation of the coconut belt; massive production of improved seedlings; capacity building and empowerment of the value chain; and encouragement of proliferation of coconut cottage.
“We are doing these and more in a bid to encourage private investors to come and invest in the state,’’ she added.
She said that the administration of Gov. Sanwo-Olu had reiterated its commitment to support coconut farmers, processors, marketers, haulage operators, producers on food security, job and wealth creation with the active involvement of private sector.
Mr Solomon Bonu, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, said that the state government had set up a committee to look into the continuous seizure of coconuts in Badagry.
Bonu noted that the governor had written letters to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly (NASS) on the matter.
According to him, coconut cannot be separated from Badagry because Badagry is coconut and coconut is Badagry.
Mr Dapo Olakulehin, the General Manager, Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA) said the usefulness of coconut could not be over-emphasised.
