By Faridat Salifu
Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, has pledged N25 billion to support the Lagos State Government’s Produce-for-Lagos programme.
The announcement was made recently during the official launch of the Produce for Lagos Programme and the N500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund at Lagos House, Ikeja.
Elumelu’s commitment marks the largest private sector contribution to the initiative, which aims to enhance food security, fix supply chain inefficiencies, and improve access to fresh produce across Lagos State.
He stated that the funding would be deployed through the United Bank for Africa (UBA), with an additional N1 billion donation announced to further support the state’s food security efforts.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu formally launched the N500 billion Uptake Guarantee Fund, describing it as a strategic response to disruptions caused by COVID-19, climate shocks, and global supply chain vulnerabilities.
He emphasized the urgency of boosting Lagos’s food self-sufficiency, citing data showing that the state consumes over half of the Southwest’s total food output.
In 2024, Lagos renamed its Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems to reflect its expanded mandate on food systems transformation.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said the fund would strengthen the value chain through guaranteed offtake, improved logistics, and rural-urban linkages.
She highlighted supporting infrastructure such as the Lagos Fresh Hub and various youth-led innovation programmes as key enablers of the initiative.
The Federal Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, endorsed the fund as a timely model aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, called for ranch development and affirmed food security as a foundation for national stability.
The programme is coordinated by the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company in partnership with private sector players.
It is designed to cut post-harvest losses, expand market access for farmers, and integrate Lagos more closely with major food-producing regions of Nigeria.