By Ayomide Otitoju
A University of Lagos (UNILAG) academic has called on the Lagos State Government to adopt urban agriculture, enhance its monitoring and evaluation framework, and deepen social inclusion as it prepares its 2026 development agenda.
Speaking at the Lagos Economic Outlook 2026 roundtable organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget and held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Professor Olufemi Shuaib warned that Lagos can no longer rely on traditional territorial farming due to limited arable land. The event had the theme: “Building Forward: Unlocking Emerging Sectors for an Inclusive, Resilient, and Prosperous Lagos Economy.”
Shuaib argued that the state must embrace innovative alternatives such as soil-less and hydroponic farming to address growing food insecurity. He noted that UNILAG has already developed a prototype urban farm and is collaborating with global partners on experimental agriculture projects.
“We need to go into city agriculture — soil-less, hydroponic farming. Lagos no longer has commercial advantage in territorial agriculture,” he said, adding that new technologies make it possible for residents “to cultivate even in their bedrooms.”
He urged physical planners to allocate spaces for small-scale urban farms within development projects, lamenting the conversion of agricultural corridors — particularly along the Ikorodu–Epe axis — into real estate and land-banking zones.
On governance, Shuaib stressed the need for a stronger monitoring and evaluation system to measure the outcomes of government programmes. While thousands have benefited from the state’s digital and vocational training initiatives, he said there is little documented assessment of beneficiaries’ progress.
“We focus more on inputs and programmes. We do not look at products and outcomes,” he noted, proposing the creation of localised indices such as an Infrastructure Quality Index, Transport Quality Index, and Health and Education Quality Index to track development performance without relying on external benchmarks.
He also emphasised the importance of social protection measures to support vulnerable groups who may not immediately benefit from rapid economic growth.
Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, in his keynote address, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to data-driven and future-focused planning as the state transitions into the 2026 fiscal cycle.
“This is not just a time to build back, but to build forward — stronger, smarter, and more inclusive,” he said, highlighting priorities such as urban regeneration, the creative economy, and the Omi-Eko Revolution aimed at modernising water transportation.
Other panelists included Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide; CEO of Chocolate City, Abuchi Peter Ugwu; Professor of Geography, Transportation and Spatial Planning, Samuel Iyiola Oni; and UNILAG’s Dr. Amina Olohunlana. They collectively called for sustained collaboration to build an economy anchored on innovation, resilience and inclusivity.
