A civil society organization, the Campaign for Dignity in Governance, has praised the Lagos State Government for launching the “Produce for Lagos” program, calling the initiative and its ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund a brilliant response to the food insecurity challenges facing the nation.
In a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Razaq Olokooba, the organization expressed its commendation on Friday following the program’s official unveiling earlier in the week.
The initiative aims to transform Lagos’ food system and reduce the state’s dependence on external food sources, garnering praise for the Sanwo-Olu-led government both within and beyond the state.
According to Olokooba, the initiative is timely and marks a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Lagos State Government, the private sector, the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company (LAFSINCO), Ekolog, and the Lagos Bulk Trading Company.
Olokooba noted that the model being developed is set to enhance food production and logistics across the state and could serve as a scalable framework for improving livelihoods and national resilience. From the group’s sampling of opinions in Lagos and other states, it seems that citizens are pleased with the Lagos state government’s strategic programs aimed at combating hunger and starvation.
He highlighted that a key component of the “Produce for Lagos” program is its data-driven approach, emphasizing that the scheme will help tackle agricultural inefficiencies and build stronger value chains.
“It is said that food security is a collective responsibility that we cannot afford to neglect as a nation. We are grateful to God for providing us with a leader like Sanwo-Olu, who is visionary, forward-thinking, and compassionate towards ordinary people.
“We commend Governor Sanwo-Olu for consistently setting benchmarks and leading the way in subnational governance. These achievements demonstrate the economic growth, infrastructural development, and urban planning efforts of the Lagos government.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu is a trailblazer; he has performed admirably, and we fully support his programs and policies. His work over the past six years speaks for itself. This initiative, a partnership between the state government and the private sector, will significantly boost agricultural production.”
During the launch, Sanwo-Olu also announced the deployment of a fleet of 150 cold and dry trucks, the largest of its kind, in partnership with the private sector.
It should be noted that business mogul Tony Elumelu, who supported the project with ₦25 billion, emphasized the importance of food security and expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration between Lagos and other participating states.
Other prominent individuals at the event included Amir Kamel, Vice President of Afreximbank, and Mr. Michel Deleen, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, among other dignitaries.
