The Lagos State Government has launched the Produce for Lagos programme alongside a ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund, aimed at strengthening local food supply chains and unlocking growth opportunities for farmers, food processors, and small businesses in the agricultural value chain.
Announced on Thursday, the initiative seeks to directly connect producers across Nigeria to Lagos—the country's largest food market—while providing guaranteed offtake, access to finance, and logistics support for small and medium agro-enterprises.
With over ₦16 trillion worth of food traded annually and consumption exceeding half of the South-West region's supply, Lagos presents a massive opportunity for producers and SMEs. The new programme is designed to cut post-harvest losses, create jobs, reduce food import dependency, and expand domestic agro-processing capacity.
At the core of the plan is a commitment to bridge the gap between production and consumption. The Offtake Fund, structured to attract private capital and de-risk investment, will finance farmers, transporters, and market players across the food ecosystem.
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The programme is being implemented by the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company, in partnership with the Lagos Bulk Trading Company, Ekolog, and the Produce for Lagos Fund. As part of the infrastructure rollout, the state has deployed 150 cold and dry chain trucks, the largest fleet of its kind in Nigeria, to ensure safe, efficient delivery of perishable and dry goods.
According to officials, the initiative aligns with Lagos' long-term plan to build a sustainable and inclusive food economy driven by local production. It is expected to boost agro-SME participation, reduce food costs, and foster investment across the agricultural sector.
The government is calling on investors, banks, development partners, and other state governments to collaborate in scaling the model and building a resilient food system that serves the entire country.
