By HeadlineNews Business & Policy Desk | July 24, 2025
Lagos, Nigeria
In what has been described as a historic step toward reshaping Nigeria’s agricultural economy, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has officially launched the ‘Produce for Lagos’ Programme, backed by a groundbreaking ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund aimed at boosting food security, de-risking agriculture, and anchoring Lagos as the central hub in Nigeria’s food value chain.
The initiative was unveiled on Wednesday at a high-level ceremony at Lagos House, Ikeja, where Governor Sanwo-Olu addressed stakeholders, policymakers, financiers, and development partners with a clear, urgent message: “Lagos will no longer wait for the food to find it. It will now create the systems that pull the food in—efficiently, profitably, and sustainably.”
A Turning Point in Food Policy
The launch of the ‘Produce for Lagos’ programme marks a major pivot from fragmented food distribution to a structured agricultural market model underpinned by capital, logistics, and policy.
“Lagos is Nigeria’s largest food market, consuming over 50% of the food traded in the Southwest, yet we lose nearly half of our produce between farm and market due to inefficient logistics,” Sanwo-Olu noted.
“This initiative is not a subsidy. It is an investment platform that will catalyze private capital and stabilize food prices.”
The fund, which will be managed by the newly created Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company (LAFSINCO), will offer guaranteed offtake support to farmers, bulk traders, aggregators, and transporters across Nigeria — ensuring that food grown anywhere in the country can reach Lagos efficiently and profitably.
The Economic Imperative
Lagos, home to over 22 million people, imports more than 75% of its food from other states. The lack of cold-chain infrastructure, volatile pricing, and inconsistent offtake agreements have often led to high wastage and rising food inflation, a challenge now exacerbated by nationwide insecurity and climate volatility.
With food inflation hovering at 35.4% (as of June 2025), the timing of the initiative could not be more critical. Analysts project that if implemented effectively, the Produce for Lagos programme could help cut post-harvest losses by up to 40%, and improve market access for over 2 million smallholder farmers in Northern and Middle Belt regions.
Scaling with Infrastructure
In what Sanwo-Olu called “the largest logistics deployment in Nigeria’s agricultural history,” the state is rolling out 150 new cold and dry trucks in partnership with the private sector to streamline the storage and transportation of perishable goods.
Additionally, the Lagos State Food Logistics Hub—currently under construction in partnership with Origin Tech Group—is set to open by December 2025, positioning Lagos as a national food exchange centre with cross-border trade potential.
“Let us rise together to feed this nation sustainably. Let us collaborate across borders to secure our food future,” the Governor urged his fellow state governors and federal policymakers.
A Strategic Continuum
- The initiative is a continuation of Lagos State’s transformation journey in agriculture, beginning with:
- Lagos Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap (2021)
- Renaming of the Ministry to Agriculture and Food Systems (2024)
- Ounje Eko Discount Markets (2023–2025)
- Lagos Agripreneurship Programme
- Lagos Agric Scholars’ Programme
Each of these policies has laid the foundation for a coherent, systems-led agricultural economy—one that balances social equity with commercial viability.
“Produce for Lagos is not just a policy. It’s a promise. If you grow it, Lagos will take it—with dignity, structure, and guaranteed offtake,” said Ms. Abisola Olusanya, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems.
How Lagos Compares Globally
Countries that have succeeded in securing food through strategic offtake and logistics programs provide a valuable lens for comparison:
India’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) model guarantees farmers a set price for crops — though critics argue it’s costly to sustain.
Brazil’s PAA (Food Acquisition Programme) links smallholder farmers to public procurement to fight hunger and support rural economies.
Ethiopia’s AGP (Agricultural Growth Program) focuses on building value chains and infrastructure in selected regions.
However, Lagos’ approach stands out by blending private capital, logistics innovation, and government guarantees in a megacity that consumes at the scale of small nations.
The Bigger Picture
This is not just about Lagos—it’s about redefining the economics of Nigerian agriculture. The Produce for Lagos programme could serve as a national model for states struggling with urban food access and rural supply chain failures. More than that, it reimagines food not just as a commodity, but as a right backed by systems.
“This is the justice demanded by the tomato farmer in Zaria, the pepper trader in Mile 12, and the millions who sleep hungry—not because we lack food, but because we lack systems,” Olusanya added.
Conclusion: Feeding Lagos, Feeding the Nation
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s ₦500 billion Produce for Lagos programme is a bold and necessary move in a country grappling with inflation, insecurity, and supply-chain dysfunction. If successfully implemented, it could become the most consequential subnational agricultural policy in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
As Nigeria seeks new models for food sustainability, Lagos may have just created the blueprint.
Report by
Dr. G. Fraser. MFR. HeadlineNews.News Business & Policy Desk
Smart policy. Bold action. Real results.
© HeadlineNews.News 2025
HEADLINENEWS COMMENTARY.
“Produce for Lagos: Sanwo-Olu’s ₦500 Billion Vision Aligns with Tinubu’s APC Reform Agenda”
Excerpt:
“By launching Nigeria’s most ambitious subnational food investment, Lagos underlines its role as a policy pacesetter for APC’s national transformation drive.”
Quote:
“We must build a nation where no Nigerian goes to bed hungry. Agriculture is not just survival—it is sovereignty.”
— President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the APC National Policy Retreat, 2024
Comment:
Sanwo-Olu’s initiative is not isolated—it’s an execution of Tinubu’s broader national agenda: self-sufficiency, market-driven policies, and a government that delivers. This is APC governance at its sharpest—strategic, scalable, and squarely focused on the people.
More Commentaries that highlight the significance of the initiative and its alignment with the APC’s people-focused governance model:
“Produce for Lagos: Sanwo-Olu Unleashes ₦500 Billion to Feed Nigeria’s Future”
Excerpt:
“With a bold ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund, Lagos is repositioning food not just as a commodity but as a structured national asset.”
Quote:
“This is not just Lagos feeding itself—it’s Lagos teaching the federation how to govern with purpose. Sanwo-Olu’s initiative is the first real attempt to turn food security into structured economic policy at subnational scale. It is what visionary governance looks like in real time.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR, Political Strategist, Governance Consultant, Perception Management Expert.
“This is how to govern—by turning food into infrastructure, and vision into value.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR,
Comment:
This initiative reflects APC’s shift toward systems & people driven governance—impact, not rhetoric.
“Feeding Lagos, Feeding Nigeria: Sanwo-Olu’s Vision for Agricultural Sovereignty”
Excerpt:
“The ‘Produce for Lagos’ programme promises not just food, but dignity, pricing stability, and a thriving rural economy.”
Quote:
“Food security is not a luxury. It’s the foundation of national independence.”
— Kofi Annan, Former UN Secretary-General.
Comment:
Sanwo-Olu’s leadership bridges urban demand with rural supply—a practical blueprint for national integration.
“Lagos Goes Local: ₦500 Billion Fund Aims to Stabilize Food, Empower Farmers”
Excerpt:
“From tomato farms in Zaria to pepper markets in Mile 12, Lagos is building a dependable, decentralized food network.”
Quote:
“Africa’s future depends on leaders who turn local production into national prosperity.”
— Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank.
Comment:
This move is bold, pro-rural, and grounded in practical economics—hallmarks of people-first governance.
“Sanwo-Olu Launches Largest Subnational Food Investment in Nigeria’s History”
Excerpt:
“The Governor’s initiative goes beyond subsidies, creating a financial and logistical ecosystem that rewards production and reduces waste.”
Quote:
“Policy becomes power when it works at the market level.”
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, WTO.
Comment:
This is governance that listens to farmers, traders, and consumers—a direct response to economic realities.
“From Policy to Plate: Lagos Moves to Dominate Nigeria’s Food Economy”
Excerpt:
“With over 150 cold and dry trucks deployed, and a food logistics hub underway, Lagos is transforming supply chain chaos into order.”
Quote:
“Governments must invest where hunger begins—on the road between the farm and the table.”
— Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia.
Comment:
By tackling logistics and waste, Lagos isn’t just solving food inflation—it’s rewriting how cities feed themselves.
“Produce for Lagos: Sanwo-Olu’s ₦500 Billion Gamble to Fix What’s Broken”
Excerpt:
“This isn’t charity—it’s system engineering. And it could become the most impactful APC-led subnational policy yet.”
Quote:
“Real leadership doesn’t wait for federal rescue—it builds resilience from within.”
— Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda
Comment:
Sanwo-Olu’s approach embodies the APC’s evolving governance model: data-backed, market-aware, and citizen-focused.
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