In a bold move to stabilise food supply, reduce prices, and boost the local agricultural economy, the Lagos State Government has launched the “Produce for Lagos” programme alongside a ₦500 billion initiative aimed at strengthening food systems and ensuring long-term food security.

Speaking at the official launch on Wednesday at the State Government Secretariat in Alausa, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu highlighted the significance of the initiative in transforming the state’s food landscape.

“This initiative ensures we are taking concrete steps to make Lagos, and Nigeria as a whole, more food secure, more self-reliant, and better positioned to grow our agricultural sector in a real, lasting way,” the governor said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as the largest food market in Nigeria, consuming more than half of all food traded in the South-West and accounting for a food economy valued at over ₦16 trillion.

“That’s huge, and it tells us two things: the demand is there, and the opportunity to build a strong, local supply chain is there too,” he added.

The “Produce for Lagos” programme is designed to directly connect farmers and food producers with the Lagos market by offering guaranteed offtake, streamlined access to financing, and logistics support.

“It is about growing food, creating jobs, cutting waste, and helping more people earn a living from agriculture,” Sanwo-Olu reiterated.

He emphasized that the initiative is a government-private sector partnership, being executed through the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company, with support from the Lagos Bulk Trading Company, Ekolog, and the Produce for Lagos Fund.

To enhance food distribution, the state has also deployed a fleet of 150 cold and dry trucks—the largest of its kind in Nigeria—to ensure safe and efficient transportation of food products.

The ₦500 billion fund backing the initiative is structured to attract private capital, mitigate financial risks, and provide sustainable financing for traders, transporters, and farmers.

“Good policy is important, but we also know it takes actual funding and strong follow-through to make a real impact,” Governor Sanwo-Olu stated, while calling on investors, banks, development agencies, and other stakeholders to collaborate in building a resilient food system for Lagos.

Lagos Eye News reports that the new initiative will also strengthen collaboration with neighbouring states to ensure consistent food supply and create structured market opportunities for local farmers and agro-processors through a coordinated offtaker system.