Lagos Can Be Nigeria’s Food Powerhouse, Says Governor Sanwo-Olu
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared that Lagos State possesses the untapped potential to become a massive food producer for Nigeria, capable of making a significant dent in the nation’s food security challenges. The key, he insists, lies in a powerful alliance between the government, the private sector, and the country’s young innovators.
Unlocking Agricultural Potential Through Innovation
The governor made these remarks at the Lagos Agrinnovation Summit 2.0 in Victoria Island, an event themed ‘Thriving Systems for a Smarter Future.’ Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Egube, Sanwo-Olu reframed the conversation around agriculture, moving it beyond traditional farming.
“Innovation is central to the President’s strategy, it’s central to the state’s strategy, and we are here to execute and focus on this great dream to leap Nigeria forward,” he stated. The administration believes strongly in partnering with private investors to revolutionize food systems and logistics.
The Market as the Ultimate Driver
Governor Sanwo-Olu positioned Lagos’s immense consumer market as its greatest agricultural asset. “Value is always driven by the market, and Lagos is the biggest market in West Africa,” he noted. “Therefore, we must pay particular attention to what Lagos does and how we mobilize the people of Lagos to produce for Nigeria.”
He elaborated that the entire value chain—from seed to plate—is where real value is created and captured. This holistic view challenges the old notion that limited land equates to limited production.
“Historically, we thought that where land is limited, agricultural production is limited, but we have seen from around the world that this is not true,” Sanwo-Olu asserted. “With significant innovation, drive, determination, and energy, we can achieve what was historically considered impossible. And that is what Lagos stands for.”
A Vision for a Hunger-Free, Self-Sufficient Lagos
Echoing the governor’s sentiment, the State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, painted a vivid picture of the state’s ambition. She envisions a Lagos where no child is hungry, where food is fresh, affordable, and locally grown.
“Where the vibrant energy in our markets is matched by the creativity of young people who see agriculture not as old-fashioned, but as the next great frontier,” Olusanya said.
Her vision is to build a youth-led, resilient, and efficient food system—an ecosystem where young entrepreneurs and thinkers collaborate to transform how the megacity grows, processes, and consumes its food. She emphasized that feeding over 24 million people is not a solo mission but requires a living, breathing network of cooperation.
Central to this effort is the ‘Produce for Lagos’ programme, which aims to strengthen local production and connect rural farmers with urban consumers. “The energy and ingenuity of our youth are central to making that happen,” Olusanya stated.
Agriculture Ends on the Plate, Not at the Farm
Keynote speaker Abubakar Sulaimon, Managing Director of Sterling Bank, provided a crucial economic perspective. He highlighted that despite Lagos’s small geographical size, it commands the most significant sustainable agricultural value chain in the region.
“The greatest value in the food systems happens during consumption,” Sulaimon explained. “Lagos serves over 50 million people, and that is the real value. The greatest value is realized when people actually consume the food. Agriculture does not end at the farm; it ends on the plate.”
This collective vision from leadership and finance signals a strategic pivot for Lagos, aiming to leverage its market strength and youthful talent to not only feed itself but to become a central pillar of Nigeria’s food security.
Source: Seyi Taiwo-Oguntuase & Victoria Ojugbana