Lagos Coconut Zone Proposal Targets Up to 85,000 Jobs Through Value Addition
Lagos produces an estimated 70% of Nigeria’s coconuts, yet much of the crop is still sold raw. In Badagry and Epe, coconut husks are often discarded or burned, despite the potential to produce oil, flour, coir, activated carbon, cosmetics inputs and other products. Lagos State has already outlined plans for seedlings, processing equipment, virgin coconut oil production and expanded planting. This proposal argues that the next step should be infrastructure that keeps more of the value chain within the state. The proposed Coconut Zone would link farms, processing facilities, research, export certification, cooperative finance, skills training, waste-to-energy projects, tourism and trade. The model estimates phased investment of about $490 million over two to nine years, with projected annual revenue of $76.5 million to $164 million and up to 85,000 direct and indirect jobs at full maturity. Could a coordinated coconut-processing hub help Lagos move from exporting raw nuts to exporting finished products and expertise? What would it take to fund the first phase?
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