The Lagos State Government has launched a ₦500 billion Uptake Guarantee Fund aimed at transforming the state’s food systems, enhancing supply chain efficiency, and stimulating inclusive economic growth through agriculture-led development.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who formally unveiled the initiative in Lagos on Wednesday, said the fund is a strategic response to the structural vulnerabilities in Lagos’ food ecosystem, which were exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate shocks, and disruptions in global supply chains.
“Our vision is to build a resilient and self-sustaining food system that feeds Lagos now and in the future,” the governor said. “This fund is a safety net that connects producers to consumers with dignity and efficiency.”
According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, a recent state-wide study revealed that Lagos consumes more than 50 percent of the food produced in the South-West region, underscoring the need to scale up internal food production, distribution, and logistics.
The Uptake Guarantee Fund is part of Lagos’ broader food security strategy initiated in 2019 under its Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap.
The government has since restructured its institutional framework by renaming the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems in 2024, reflecting a shift toward a systems-based approach to food governance.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, stated that the fund will play a catalytic role in reducing post-harvest losses, encouraging farm-level investment, and strengthening rural-urban food linkages.
“This fund will assure uptakers to buy, give farmers courage to plant, embolden financiers to invest, and reassure Lagosians of access to safe, affordable food,” Olusanya said.
She added that state-backed infrastructure projects such as the Lagos Fresh Hub are critical enablers of the fund, designed to facilitate aggregation and controlled distribution of perishable produce to reduce wastage and stabilize market prices.
The initiative also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which emphasizes economic resilience, poverty reduction, and national food self-sufficiency.
Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the fund as a model for sub-national food security policy, stating that it would strengthen investor confidence across the agricultural value chain.
“This landmark initiative aligns perfectly with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It protects livelihoods, promotes food access, and creates the kind of resilience Nigeria urgently needs,” Uzoka-Anite said.
In support of the programme, Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, announced a ₦25 billion commitment to scale the fund’s impact, with a focus on youth employment and agribusiness development.
“Agriculture has the capacity to create millions of jobs if properly financed and structured,” Elumelu said. “We are proud to partner with Lagos State to build a more inclusive economy.”
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, commended the initiative, emphasizing the correlation between food security and national stability.
He urged the state and federal governments to invest in modern ranching infrastructure to minimize farmer-herder conflicts.
“A well-fed nation is a secure nation. Where food is available, crime drops and peace is easier to maintain,” Musa stated.
The Lagos State Government affirmed that the fund would be deployed through a transparent framework in partnership with the private sector, development partners, and financial institutions.
The fund will support priority areas including logistics, processing, innovation, and off-take guarantees, with a focus on smallholder empowerment.
The event was attended by key stakeholders including governors, ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, agribusiness leaders, and representatives of farmer cooperatives from across Nigeria.
With this intervention, Lagos aims to establish a replicable model for urban-centered food policy in Nigeria, strengthen internal value chains, and reduce dependency on long-distance food imports.
