Inter-state partnership promises food security, rural prosperity, and national economic integration as Lagos launches West Africa’s largest food hub.
Lagos, Nigeria – Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has pledged unwavering support for the ₦500 billion Produce for Lagos initiative launched by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, describing the partnership between Kogi and Lagos states as a game-changing model for national food security and economic integration.
Speaking at the official launch of the Produce for Lagos programme on Wednesday, Governor Ododo emphasized that the initiative would guarantee market assurance for farmers, bridge regional food supply gaps, and transform agricultural output into sustainable economic prosperity.
“Kogi produces food. Lagos consumes food. When we work together, we achieve food security, market stability, and inclusive growth,” Ododo stated.
He commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for the foresight in inviting Kogi to join the programme, noting that it marks a historic milestone in inter-state collaboration. “This partnership is a mutual investment in people, productivity, and prosperity,” he said.
Ododo noted that Kogi has made agriculture a central pillar of its development strategy, having cultivated thousands of hectares, distributed improved seedlings and livestock breeds, and supported over 10,000 farmers with grants and mechanized equipment. Kogi currently leads Nigeria in cassava production and ranks among the top producers of yam, maize, and cereals, with growing investments in ginger farming.
To sustain rural productivity, the state has revitalized agricultural extension services, improved rural infrastructure, and invested in modern healthcare and education across farming communities.
“With this partnership, our farmers now produce with confidence, backed by a structured and reliable offtake system. This is not just about farming—it's about structured prosperity across the value chain,” the governor said.
He hailed President Bola Tinubu’s Greener Hope Agricultural Productivity Programme, describing it as a strategic redirection of national focus toward agriculture. “With $1 billion committed already, agriculture is the new oil,” Ododo declared, affirming Kogi’s full alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Launching the Produce for Lagos programme, Governor Sanwo-Olu revealed that Lagos’ food economy has surged from ₦6.5 trillion in 2018 to ₦16.14 trillion in 2024, making it Nigeria’s largest consumer market, responsible for over 50% of the Southwest’s food consumption.
He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed Lagos’ vulnerability due to heavy reliance on imported food, prompting the creation of the Lagos State Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap in 2021. The roadmap targets post-harvest losses, poor logistics, and inefficient supply chains.
“We now see food as economic infrastructure, deserving the same attention as transport or energy,” Sanwo-Olu said, highlighting that the state’s agriculture budget grew from ₦4.2 billion in 2018 to ₦80 billion in 2024, the highest in history.
Key projects under this roadmap include:
Ounje Eko Discount Markets
₦500 million Farmers Subsidy Programme
The Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub in Epe (the largest in West Africa)
The Middle-Level Agro-Produce Hub
Lagos Agripreneurship Program (LAP)
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Produce for Lagos programme will deliver guaranteed offtake contracts, financing, logistics support, and job opportunities for youth. The initiative is designed to reduce dependence on informal supply chains and ensure every link in the food ecosystem from production to consumption, yields economic benefit.
“This is the next logical step in our roadmap to transform Lagos into a self-sustaining food hub,” Sanwo-Olu asserted.
The launch event was attended by the Governors of Ogun, Niger, and Taraba states, along with representatives from Jigawa and Kwara. All pledged to align with the vision of a sustainable, nationally integrated food supply chain anchored on Lagos as a reliable consumer base.
Governor Ododo concluded with a firm commitment:
“This partnership will not remain on paper. We’re committed to making it work for the farmers who plant, the traders who move, and the families who eat.”
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