Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday unveiled the ‘Produce for Lagos’ programme, alongside a ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund, aimed at strengthening food security, reducing dependence on imports, and transforming Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
Speaking at the launch event held at Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the initiative as a bold step toward inclusive prosperity and sustainable development—not only for Lagos but for the entire nation.
“This N500 billion fund and the Produce for Lagos initiative reflect our administration’s commitment to achieving food security, inclusive prosperity, and sustainable growth,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He noted that Lagos, Nigeria’s largest food market, consumes over 50 percent of the food traded in the South-West region, with a food economy valued at ₦16.14 trillion. The new programme, he said, will facilitate guaranteed offtake contracts, provide access to finance, and streamline logistics for stakeholders across the food value chain.
The initiative is a public-private sector collaboration aimed at boosting agricultural production nationwide. Sanwo-Olu also announced the deployment of 150 cold and dry trucks, the largest coordinated fleet in the country, to improve food storage and transportation.
“This initiative will reduce reliance on informal and uncoordinated supply chains, create employment for our youth, and increase economic returns across the agricultural ecosystem,” he added.
The programme will be implemented through the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company (LAFSINCO) and supported by Special Purpose Vehicles, including the Lagos Bulk Trading Company, Ekolog (Eko Logistics), and the Produce for Lagos Fund.
“This ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund is not a subsidy. It is an investment vehicle to catalyse private capital, stabilise food prices, and de-risk agricultural operations,” the governor emphasized. “What we are building is a future-facing agricultural ecosystem—combining policy, financing, infrastructure, and data.”
Sanwo-Olu called on state governments, financial institutions, development partners, private investors, and key value-chain players to join Lagos in building a resilient and sustainable food system for Nigeria.
“Let us rise together to feed this nation sustainably. Let us collaborate across borders, build resilient infrastructure, and secure our food future not just for Lagos but for Nigeria,” he urged.
Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and Usman Ododo (Kogi) states poised to be key contributors under the initiative commended Sanwo-Olu for his leadership and pledged to align with the programme to leverage their states’ comparative agricultural advantages.
Federal officials, including Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, and Minister of State for Finance, Doris Aniete, also lauded the initiative, describing it as a significant move toward achieving national food security through state-level collaboration.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, voiced support from the Armed Forces of Nigeria, stating:
“We are fully ready to support this initiative, which has the potential to significantly address hunger and food insecurity in the country.”
Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said the programme seeks to reduce post-harvest losses, stabilise prices, and build an efficient food supply chain into the urban center.
She also highlighted complementary initiatives such as the Lagos Innovation Club, Lagos Food Festival, Lagos Agriculture Scholars Programme, and the Lagos Apprenticeship Programme, all aimed at nurturing agri-entrepreneurship and promoting a thriving food culture.
Chairman of Origin Tech Group, Prince S. J. Samuel, reaffirmed the private sector’s commitment to the initiative and called for deeper collaboration between public and private stakeholders to ensure food security in Lagos and beyond.
