The Lagos State Government has announced a ₦500 billion agricultural initiative titled “Produce for Lagos”, a landmark Offtaker Programme aimed at ensuring long-term food availability, affordability, and sustainability across the state.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday ahead of the formal launch scheduled for Wednesday, July 23.
She described the programme as a strategic intervention to transform Lagos’ food supply ecosystem through robust partnerships with other states and the private sector.
“The Produce for Lagos initiative represents our commitment to building resilient, sustainable food systems by leveraging inter-state collaboration and private sector investment,” Olusanya stated.
Despite being a key economic hub in sub-Saharan Africa, Lagos faces serious spatial limitations that restrict large-scale agricultural activity. According to Olusanya, this makes it imperative for the state to rely on efficient partnerships for food sourcing and supply.
The Initiative is structured around four key pillars:
- Private Sector Investment – To close infrastructure and funding gaps across the food value chain.
- Bulk Aggregation – Centralised procurement of food items to reduce costs and increase availability.
- Organised Food Value Chains – Streamlined systems to ensure efficient movement of goods from farm to market, minimising post-harvest losses.
- Health and Nutrition Impact – Improved quality and nutritional value of food consumed by Lagosians.
Olusanya revealed that over ₦3 billion worth of agricultural produce has already been traded through the state’s aggregation hubs — a testament to the viability of structured food logistics in Lagos.
In addition to the core Offtaker Programme, the commissioner also highlighted supporting interventions including:
The ₦750 million Traders’ Money scheme, targeting market women and small-scale food vendors.
The Agro-Innovation Club, a platform for youth and agri-preneurs to access mentorship, financing, and technical support.
She emphasized that “Produce for Lagos” is not just about boosting urban agriculture, but fostering strategic food supply relationships with upcountry states to address demand shortfalls resulting from Lagos’ land constraints.
“We don’t want a repeat of past food shortages. This initiative ensures food keeps flowing into Lagos in the right quantity, quality, and cost,” she said.
While the number of direct beneficiaries is yet to be officially released, the programme is projected to reach thousands of stakeholders — from producers and aggregators to retailers and logistics partners — through collaborative efforts with relevant MDAs and private offtakers.
The July 23 launch is expected to attract key players in Nigeria’s agricultural sector and mark a significant milestone in Lagos State’s drive toward food sovereignty, inclusive growth, and agricultural innovation.