The 11th edition of Agrofood Nigeria has once again brought together companies, innovators, and key decision-makers from Nigeria and across the globe to chart solutions aimed at strengthening value chains, boosting productivity, and advancing the country’s dynamic agrofood industries.
This year’s edition, organised by Fairtrade Messe in conjunction with its local partner, Modion Communications, covered exhibition sectors including agriculture, food and beverage technology, food ingredients, packaging, and food & hospitality.
A total of 137 exhibitors participated in the three-day event.
Speaking at the 2026 Agrofood & Plastprintpack Nigeria exhibition and conference held in Lagos on tuesday, eminent personalities — including Lagos State Governor, 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, H.E. Bengt van Loosdrecht; President of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), Otunba Francis Meshioye; and the representative of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Engr. (Dr.) Jani Ibrahim — emphasised Nigeria’s position as a key agro-allied nation with vast potential.
Addressing the theme of this year’s conference, “Achieving World-Class Food Security in Nigeria,” stakeholders described it as timely and imperative, noting that it reflects the structural realities of the economy and the urgent need to reposition agriculture from subsistence to a catalyst for industrial transformation, trade expansion, and inclusive economic growth.
They projected that Nigeria’s food market would reach approximately €222 billion by 2026, with strong annual growth expected in the coming years.
In his keynote address, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos remains not only Nigeria’s commercial capital but also Africa’s largest single food consumption market. He noted that the state’s food economy has more than doubled in six years, rising from ₦6.5 trillion in 2019 to over ₦16 trillion, adding that Lagos alone consumes more than half of all food traded across the South-West.
He further stated that as a state contributing about 22 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, with its economy projected to approach ₦66 trillion this year, Lagos serves as the natural gateway and most structured market for investors in agro-processing, cold chain, packaging, and food technology.
Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Ltd, Bismarck Rewane, warned about the adverse effects of the Middle East conflict on Nigeria’s agricultural sector, urging Nigerians to brace for possible food price pressures arising from global economic disruptions.
The President of the Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA), Mr. Alexander Isong, lamented the limited penetration of cold chain infrastructure in Nigeria.
He noted that post-harvest losses remain a major challenge, revealing that Nigeria lost between ₦3.5 trillion and ₦5 trillion — equivalent to 30 to 40 million metric tonnes of food — last year due to poor storage and weak logistics. He added that over 97 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural exports still leave the country unprocessed.
The MAN President highlighted that global hunger remains high, citing United Nations World Food Programme data showing that about 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, with Africa experiencing the most severe impact.
The NACCIMA National President reaffirmed that achieving world-class food security in Nigeria is achievable but requires deliberate policies, sustained investment, and collective commitment to transforming agriculture into a globally competitive, value-driven sector.
The 11th edition hosted exhibitors from four continents and fifteen 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 of America.b