The Governors of Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Taraba, and Kogi States have taken a bold step toward ensuring food security, strengthening inter-state collaboration, and removing bottlenecks in the agricultural value chain through the symbolic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The event, which marked the official launch of the ₦500 billion Produce for Lagos Offtaker Guarantee Fund and the unveiling of EkoLog Trucks, was held at the Lagos State House, Ikeja. It also provided a platform for the governors to reaffirm their commitment to boosting food production, increasing supply, and creating employment opportunities for their citizens.
Welcoming his counterparts and stakeholders, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu declared that Lagos’s long-term ambition is to enhance its food production capacity by reducing post-harvest losses and delivering hygienic, affordable food to markets across the state.
He emphasized that the Produce for Lagos initiative aligns with the national agricultural policy and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, especially regarding food sufficiency.
The Governor revealed that ₦100 billion has already been raised from key stakeholders in support of the project. He also noted that over 100 forty-foot EkoLog Trucks operated by the NLG—first of their kind in Nigeria—will aid logistics and delivery.
Sanwo-Olu added that the endorsement of the project by the military has boosted the confidence of farmers to return to their fields. He predicted that Produce for Lagos would eventually evolve into Produce for Nigeria, ensuring year-round food availability across the country.
Business mogul, Mr. Tony Elumelu, who supported the project with ₦25 billion, stated that food security is crucial and expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between Lagos and other participating states.
He noted that agriculture has the potential to drastically reduce Nigeria’s unemployment rate if its vast arable lands are fully utilized.
On his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, reiterated the military’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property nationwide. He emphasized that food security is a cardinal objective of President Tinubu’s administration and affirmed the military’s readiness to protect farmers and farmlands.
Vice President of Afreximbank, Mr. Amir Kamel, announced the bank’s readiness to support Nigeria with a $2 billion fund aimed at reducing dependence on food imports and investing in critical infrastructure and institutions within the agricultural sector.
Also speaking, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Michel Deleen, remarked that the event was the culmination of years of groundwork, highlighting the importance of the President’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security.
Chairman of ORIGIN Tech Group, Prince Samuel, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for believing in the project from inception.
He linked the high cost of food items directly to inflation and explained that the fund would allow aggregators to receive payment promptly upon delivery, while calling for more stakeholder support.
In her welcome address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, thanked the Governor for supporting her vision of boosting food production in a hygienic environment and ensuring affordability across the metropolis.
