By Abdullahi Lukman
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday launched a ₦500 billion Uptake Guarantee Fund aimed at transforming the state’s food system, tackling hunger, and creating inclusive economic opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
Speaking at the launch in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said the initiative responds to vulnerabilities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and global supply chain disruptions.
He described the fund as a “safety net” designed to connect food producers with consumers and build a resilient, self-sustaining food ecosystem.
“Lagos consumes over 50% of food produced in the Southwest,” Sanwo-Olu said. “This fund will drive internal production, reduce waste, and ensure access to affordable food.”
The fund is part of a broader policy shift that saw the state rename its Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems in 2024, a move the governor said reflects the social and economic complexities of food security.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said the fund would stabilise markets by guaranteeing produce uptake, reduce post-harvest losses, and build investor confidence.
She highlighted projects like the Lagos Fresh Hub, Agri-Preneurship Programme, and the Lagos Food Festival as key components of the state’s long-term food security roadmap.
The federal government endorsed the initiative, with Minister of State for Finance Doris Uzoka-Anite calling it “a model for economic resilience” and praising its alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, stressed the link between food security and national stability. He called on the government to further invest in ranch development to curb herder-farmer conflicts.
Philanthropist and Heirs Holdings founder Tony Elumelu also pledged ₦25 billion to support the programme, calling agriculture “a powerful engine for job creation.”
Other dignitaries at the event included governors from Ogun, Niger, Taraba, and Kogi states; Lagos Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat; federal ministers; diplomats; and farmer cooperatives.
The fund is expected to catalyse major private investment in food systems and reshape Lagos’s agricultural landscape.
