Obasa Commends N500 Billion ‘Produce For Lagos’ Initiative, Reaffirms Assembly’s Commitment To Food Security

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa, has commended the launch of the N500 billion ‘Produce for Lagos’ initiative — a landmark public-private partnership designed to address food supply chain inefficiencies, enhance access to agricultural produce, and strengthen food security across the state.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Lagos State Government, will be implemented through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) including the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company (LAFSINCO), Lagos Bulk Trading Company, Eko Logistics, and the Produce for Lagos Fund. It aims to provide credit facilities to food producers, working capital for bulk traders and logistics providers, and guaranteed offtake for farm produce.

Speaking to reporters at the launch event held at Lagos House, Alausa, on Wednesday, Speaker Obasa described the N500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund as a transformative step toward repositioning agriculture as a major economic pillar of the state. He reiterated the full support of the Lagos State House of Assembly for the initiative and similar programmes that drive economic growth and sustainability.

“The Lagos State House of Assembly is fully committed to this vision, which seeks to unlock the vast potential of our arable land and make agriculture the cornerstone of our economic prosperity,” Obasa said. “We believe agriculture can be a powerful driver of food security, job creation, and economic diversification in Lagos.”

He further noted the legislature’s track record in promoting policies and laws that encourage innovation and investment in agriculture, adding that the Assembly will fast-track deliberations on the pending Food Hub Bill to formalise market operations and reduce constraints in the informal food sector.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his keynote address, hailed the launch as “a watershed moment in our collective efforts to achieve food security, inclusive prosperity, and sustainable growth — not just for Lagos, but for Nigeria as a whole.” He highlighted that the programme will offer guaranteed offtake contracts, financing opportunities, and logistics support for stakeholders across the food value chain.

Also speaking at the event, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, described the initiative as a large-scale offtake programme that will strengthen Lagos’s food supply chain through interstate collaboration and strategic private sector investment. “The ‘Produce for Lagos’ initiative represents our commitment to building resilient, sustainable food systems for our people,” she said.

The high-profile event was attended by Governors from Kogi, Ogun, Niger, and Plateau States; Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Michael Deleen; and UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu, who announced a N25 billion donation to support the initiative.