Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, launched the Produce for Lagos Programme and unveiled the ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund, an ambitious step towards ensuring food security, reducing food imports, and improving agricultural productivity across Nigeria.
Recall that the state government earlier announced the launch.
The launch, held at the Lagos House in Ikeja, was attended by key government officials, private sector leaders, state governors, and representatives of federal ministries and agencies. The initiative is a major part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s strategy to reposition Lagos as a central hub in Nigeria’s food economy.
Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that the programme reflects his administration’s deep commitment to achieving sustainable food systems.
“The Produce for Lagos Programme and the ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund demonstrate our commitment to food security, inclusive prosperity, and sustainable growth. This is not just for Lagos State but for the entire nation,” he stated.
Governor Sanwo-Olu revealed that Lagos is the largest food market in Nigeria, consuming over 50 per cent of the food traded in the South-West region, with a food economy valued at ₦16.14 trillion. The new programme, he said, is designed to offer guaranteed off-take contracts, financial support, and logistics access to connect farmers and food producers directly with Lagos’s vast food consumption network.
“This initiative will boost agricultural production and reduce reliance on informal and uncoordinated supply channels,” he added. “It will create jobs for our youth and increase economic returns for all ecosystem stakeholders.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu also commissioned the deployment of 150 cold and dry trucks—the largest fleet of its kind in Nigeria—through a partnership with the private sector. He noted that the vehicles will improve food preservation and reduce post-harvest losses across supply chains.
The project will be implemented through the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company (LAFSINCO) and will be supported by several Special Purpose Vehicles including the Lagos Bulk Trading Company, Ekolog (Eko Logistics), and the Produce for Lagos Fund.
He elaborated on the financial structure of the programme, saying, “This ₦500 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 that our food economy cannot thrive on policy alone – it requires financing.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu clarified that the fund is not a subsidy. “This fund 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,” he said.
Calling for nationwide support, the Governor urged other states and stakeholders to partner with Lagos. “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,” Sanwo-Olu appealed.
Several state governors praised the initiative, highlighting its potential to foster inter-state agricultural collaboration. Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Mohammed Bago of Niger State, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, and Usman Ododo of Kogi State commended the programme and pledged support.
These states are expected to be major contributors to the Produce for Lagos programme, leveraging their comparative agricultural advantages.
In a show of private sector backing, the chairman of Heirs Holdings, Transcorp, and UBA, announced a ₦25 billion donation to the programme. Speaking at the event, he emphasized the importance of agriculture in addressing unemployment among Nigerian youths.
“It’s a very important initiative that all of us should appreciate. We have a lot of unemployment in our country. Agriculture and food systems are very important in fixing the issue of youth unemployment. What you and your team are doing here, and what other governors are doing in their states, collectively, in a few years’ time, will help us fix the challenge of joblessness of our loved ones,” he said.
“We believe that joblessness is a betrayal of our young people. All of us will work together to make this vision, this initiative a reality. We support this initiative with ₦25 billion.”
The event also received federal-level endorsement. The Minister for Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; the Minister of Livestock, Idi Maiha; and the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Aniete, expressed their support for the Produce for Lagos Programme. They praised the Lagos State government for its leadership in food policy and commended the collaborative spirit driving the programme.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, also expressed confidence in the success of the initiative, noting its relevance to national food security.
“We believe this initiative will work well in addressing food security challenges in the state,” he said. He confirmed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are prepared to support the programme in every way possible.
Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, outlined the goals of the programme, saying it aims to centralise agricultural aggregation to reduce post-harvest losses, stabilise food prices, and enhance the logistics of urban food supply.
She also highlighted Lagos State’s ongoing commitment to agricultural development through initiatives such as the Lagos Innovation Club, Lagos Food Festival, Lagos Agriculture Scholars Programme, and the Lagos Apprenticeship Programme. These programmes are designed to support agricultural entrepreneurs and promote food culture among the youth and general population.
Speaking on behalf of the private sector, Chairman of Origin Tech Group, Prince S. J. Samuel, reaffirmed the business community’s commitment to Lagos State’s agricultural transformation. He called for continued and increased partnerships between the public and private sectors to ensure food security for Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.
The Produce for Lagos Programme and its ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund mark a turning point in Lagos State’s agricultural policy, bringing together government, private investors, and other states to build a stronger and more resilient food economy.
With logistics infrastructure, financing tools, and inter-state partnerships now in place, the initiative is expected to drive employment, enhance food availability, and provide economic stability for producers and consumers alike.