Lagos Unveils N500 Billion ‘Produce for Lagos’ Initiative to Strengthen Food Security and Slash Import Dependency
Story written by Okafor Joseph and Myra Okafor for SpringnewsNG Media Limited.
Date: July 24, 2025 | Lagos, Nigeria
In a bold move to address rising food insecurity and reduce overdependence on food imports, the Lagos State Government has unveiled a N500 billion agricultural programme tagged “Produce for Lagos.” The initiative, launched through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, is aimed at rewiring the state’s food supply chain by serving as a structured offtaker for agricultural produce from across Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch event on Wednesday, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, described the programme as a transformative step to bridge the gap between rural food abundance and urban consumption needs.
“Today, we launch a bold, history-shaping intervention to rewire our food chain, reconnect our rural abundance with urban demand, and reward those who farm, trade, transport, and nourish us,” Olusanya stated.
She emphasized that the project is not merely another food scheme, but a comprehensive plan to ensure stable food prices, reduce post-harvest losses, and create sustainable job opportunities, especially for Nigerian youths.
“This is the justice demanded by the tomato farmer in Zaria whose harvest rots by the roadside and the pepper trader in Mile 12 who pays double for logistics but earns less than half of what she deserves,” she said. “Millions of people go to bed hungry not because Nigeria lacks food, but because we lack systems.”
With the “Produce for Lagos” initiative, Lagos will act as a guaranteed buyer of farm produce and livestock from other states, thereby improving the confidence of both farmers and investors. According to Olusanya, the N500 billion fund will offer stability in the agricultural sector by reducing risks and encouraging large-scale production.
“The fund gives the offtakers the confidence to buy, the farmers the insurance to plant, and investors the courage to scale up,” she explained.
Given Lagos’ unique geographic challenges — a land area of just 3,577 square kilometres with over 21 million residents — the commissioner highlighted that the state cannot rely solely on its internal agricultural output. She noted the need for strategic partnerships with other states to ensure consistent food supply.
“This is not a leap of faith, but a leap of strategy. If you grow it, Lagos will take it — with dignity, structure, and a guaranteed market,” Olusanya declared.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who has championed the initiative since assuming office in 2019, said the programme is a response to the glaring vulnerabilities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He reiterated the importance of building a sustainable, independent food system in Africa’s largest megacity.
“The pandemic showed us how dependent we were on imports. Now it is imperative that we transform our food system so that Lagos can feed its people sustainably,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor also urged other Nigerian states to partner with Lagos in this initiative, emphasizing that food security should transcend politics and party lines.
“There is no PDP or APC in hunger. This is a Nigerian agenda, not just a Lagos one,” he said.
