The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has commended the launch of the Produce for Lagos Programme and the accompanying ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund, describing it as a transformative step that aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking through the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, at the groundbreaking ceremony in Lagos, Edun emphasized that the initiative demonstrates the power of partnership across all levels of government and the private sector in driving national development. He noted that agriculture remains a key pillar of the administration’s vision for economic transformation and inclusive growth.
The Minister stated that the programme will unlock value chains across the agricultural sector—empowering farmers, traders, processors, and transporters—while fostering inter-state economic collaboration and solidarity. “We are not competitors,” he said, “but partners with a shared vision of resilient economies, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.”
Describing the ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund as bold and timely, Edun explained that the initiative will de-risk agricultural investments, providing critical assurance to farmers and investors alike. “It tells every farmer that their sweat will be matched with sustainability, and every investor that agriculture is bankable, investable, and scalable,” he stated.
He further highlighted the Federal Government’s broader agricultural reform agenda, including the Presidential Initiative on CNG, the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket Programme (NAGS-AP), and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs). He also cited the $1 billion Green Imperative Project with Brazil, which will introduce 10,000 tractors and modern agro-processing equipment to revolutionize Nigeria’s agricultural productivity.
The Minister concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to support the vision of a self-sufficient Lagos that contributes robustly to national food security.
