• Says Lagos is Nigeria’s largest food mart, with N16.14 trillion economy

• Governors, ministers, investors express commitment to food security

Lagos State Governor, Mr. BabajideSanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, launched the Produce for Lagos Programme and N500billion Offtake Guarantee Fund, an initiative of the state government aimed at boosting food security, reducing imports, and enhancing agricultural productivity across Nigeria.

Sanwo-Olu said the programme and the fund reflected his administration’s commitment to achieving food security, inclusive prosperity, and sustainable growth, not just for Lagos State, but for Nigeria.

Speaking during the launch of the programme at Lagos House, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos was Nigeria’s largest food market, consuming over 50 per cent of the food traded in the South-west, with a food economy valued at N16.14 trillion.

The governor expressed optimism that the programme would provide guaranteed off-take contracts, access to financing, and logistics support, connecting Lagosians directly with Lagos’s dynamic food economy.

He said the initiative, a partnership between the state government and the private sector, would boost agricultural production.

Sanwo-Olu also announced the deployment of a fleet of 150 cold and dry trucks, the largest of its kind, in partnership with the private sector.

He stressed that the initiative “will boost agricultural production and reduce reliance on informal and uncoordinated supply channels, create jobs for our youth and increase economic returns for all ecosystem stakeholders”.

 The governor stated, “It will be implemented through the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company (LAFSINCO) and supported by key Special Purpose Vehicles like the Lagos Bulk Trading Company, Ekolog (Eko Logistics), and the Produce for Lagos Fund.

“This N500 Billion Offtake Guarantee Fund will provide working capital for bulk traders, finance for logistics operators, liquidity for aggregators, and credit support for food producers across Nigeria. It is a demonstration of our understanding that our food economy cannot thrive on policy alone – it requires financing.

“This fund is not a subsidy; it is an investment vehicle that will catalyse private capital, stabilise food prices, and de-risk agricultural operations across the value chain.

“What we are doing here is creating a whole new agricultural ecosystem, one that rises to meet the demands of today and of tomorrow—combining policy, financing, infrastructure, and data.”

Sanwo-Olu called on all state governors, financial institutions, development organisations, foreign missions and diplomatic representatives from partner nations, regulatory bodies, multilateral organisations, captains of industries, able farmers nationwide, and other relevant value-chain actors to produce for Lagos.

He said, “Let us rise together to feed this nation sustainably. Let us collaborate across borders, build resilient infrastructure, support, and secure our food future not just for Lagos but for Nigeria. Let us lead, let us inspire, and let us grow for the prosperity of our people and the greatness of our country.”

Speaking during the event, Governors DapoAbiodun of Ogun State, Mohammed Bago of Niger State, AgbuKefas of Taraba, and UsmanOdodo of Kogi commended Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State government for the bold initiative on food security.

The governors, whose states were expected to be major beneficiaries of the Produce for Lagos Programme and N500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund, expressed readiness to partner Lagos State in the areas of comparative advantages in boosting food security, not only in Lagos but in Nigeria.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, BosunTijani; Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha; and Minister of State for Finance, Doris Aniete, hailed the Lagos State government for the Produce for Lagos Programme. They stated that it underscored the state’s commitment to food security and partnership with other states.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, expressed his confidence in the initiative, stating that it would work well in addressing food security challenges in the state.

Musa also expressed the readiness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to support the Produce for Lagos Programme, which, according to him, will tackle hunger in the country.

Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, AbisolaOlusanya, said the initiative aimed to centralise agricultural aggregation to cut post-harvest losses, stabilise food prices, and create an efficient urban food supply logistics system.

Olusanya said the Lagos State government had launched several programmes, including the Lagos Innovation Club, Lagos Food Festival, Lagos Agriculture Scholars Programme, and Lagos Apprenticeship Programme, to support agricultural entrepreneurs and promote food culture.

Chairman of Origin Tech Group, Prince S. J. Samuel, expressed the commitment of the private sector to the Lagos State agriculture transformation initiative, and called for more partnership between public and private sectors for food security in Lagos State and Nigeria, at large. – THIS DAY