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By Merit Ibe
Stakeholders across government, industry and development institutions have called for a strategic repositioning of agriculture from a subsistence activity to a powerful catalyst for industrial transformation, trade expansion, and inclusive economic growth. The call was made at the 11th edition of Agrofood Nigeria, themed: “Achieving World-Class Food Security in Nigeria,” where participants underscored the sector’s potential to drive value creation across multiple segments of the economy.
At the event, projections indicated that Nigeria’s food market is expected to reach approximately €222 billion by 2026, with strong annual growth anticipated in the coming years. The forecast reinforces optimism about the country’s expanding food economy and highlights opportunities for investment in agro-processing, logistics, packaging, and food technology.
The 2026 edition of the trade show, organised by Fairtrade Messe in partnership with its local collaborator, Modion Communications, featured exhibition sectors spanning agriculture, food and beverage technology, food ingredients, packaging, and food and hospitality. A total of 137 exhibitors participated in the three-day event, showcasing innovations designed to strengthen Nigeria’s food systems and improve productivity along the agricultural value chain.
Dignitaries present at the 11th anniversary of the Agrofood and Plastprintpack Nigeria exhibition and conference in Lagos included the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Ruth Abiola Olusanya; First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, H.E. Helen Eno-Obareki; Managing Director of Fairtrade Messe, Paul Marz; Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Ltd, Bismarck Rewane; representative of the Oyo State Government, Chief Debo Akande; Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Bengt van Loosdrecht; President of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, Otunba Francis Meshioye; and the representative of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, National President, Engr. (Dr.) Jani Ibrahim, among others. Participants emphasized that Nigeria remains a key agro-allied nation with immense untapped potential.
In his address, Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted Lagos State’s strategic importance within Nigeria’s food ecosystem. He noted that Lagos is not only the country’s commercial capital but also Africa’s largest single food consumption market. According to him, the state’s food economy has more than doubled in six years, rising from N6.5 trillion in 2019 to over N16 trillion currently. He added that Lagos consumes more than half of all food traded across the South-West, positioning the state as a major hub for agro-processing, cold chain logistics, packaging, and food technology investments.
The governor further explained that Lagos contributes about 22 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, with its economy projected to approach N66 trillion this year. This, he said, makes the state a natural gateway for investors seeking structured and large-scale opportunities within Africa’s food and agriculture sector.
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Economic expert Bismarck Rewane, however, cautioned that global developments could impact Nigeria’s agricultural outlook. He pointed to the ripple effects of the Middle East conflict, warning that Nigerians should brace for potential disruptions in food supply chains and rising costs. According to him, global economic instability often translates into higher input costs and inflationary pressures within domestic agricultural markets.
Speaking on infrastructure gaps, the President of the Organization for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa, Mr. Alexander Isong, lamented the limited penetration of cold chain systems in Nigeria. He stressed that post-harvest losses remain one of the biggest constraints to food security. Isong revealed that Nigeria lost between N3.5 trillion and N5 trillion worth of food last year alone, equivalent to 30 to 40 million metric tonnes, largely due to poor storage and inefficient logistics. He added that over 97 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural exports still leave the country unprocessed, depriving the economy of significant value addition.
President of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, Francis Meshioye, drew attention to global hunger challenges, noting that about 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, according to United Nations data. He expressed concern that Africa continues to experience the most severe hunger levels, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated policies to boost food production, processing, and distribution across the continent.
Similarly, NACCIMA President, Ibrahim, reaffirmed that achieving world-class food security in Nigeria is both possible and attainable. However, he stressed that success will depend on deliberate policy implementation, sustained investment, and collective commitment to transforming agriculture into a globally competitive, value-driven industry. He called for stronger collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders to accelerate innovation, improve infrastructure, and enhance access to finance.
The 11th edition of the exhibition hosted exhibitors from four continents and 15 countries, including Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The diverse participation underscored growing international interest in Nigeria’s agrofood sector and its role in driving economic diversification.
Overall, discussions at the fair highlighted the need for Nigeria to strengthen value chains, invest in storage and logistics infrastructure, expand agro-processing capacity, and promote export-oriented production. Stakeholders agreed that repositioning agriculture as an industrial driver could unlock employment opportunities, enhance food security, and support inclusive growth across the country.
