— As Kogi produces food for Lagos ,Kogi farmers enjoys better life .

By Sam Biodun Ogundipe in London

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has pledged the support of Kogi state government for the ‘Produce for Lagos’ programme.

In a speech delivered at the launch of Produce for Lagos programme on Wednesday, Governor Ododo commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state for inviting Kogi state to be part of the programme.

He said the partnership between Kogi and Lagos states will guarantee market assurance for the laudable programme.

He described the programme as a milestone in inter-state collaboration, food security, and economic integration.

Governor Usman Ododo emphasized the historical ties between Kogi and Lagos and affirmed that the partnership marks a new era in mutual investment and food system integration.
“Let me begin by emphasizing a simple but timeless truth that Lagos and Kogi share a long-standing bond rooted in commerce, migration, mutual respect, and shared vision.

A significant number of Kogi citizens have made Lagos their home, investing their skills, resources, and energy into the development of this great State. Kogi has always been part of the greatness of Lagos, and today, we are elevating that legacy, by building a partnership that works, not just for two states, but for the entire nation.

This initiative is not only timely but transformational. It signals a bold and strategic step to align production with demand and strengthen food systems across regional boundaries.

“We see this partnership as a mutual investment in people, productivity, and prosperity. Kogi produces food. Lagos consumes food. When we work together, what we achieve is food security, market stability, and inclusive growth,” Gov .Ododo said.

He stated his administration has made agriculture a top priority by not just cultivating crops but strengthening Kogi’s agricultural value chain.

“We have prepared thousands of hectares of land across the state, provided improved seedlings and livestock breeds, deployed mechanized farming equipment, and extended grants to over 10,000 farmers to scale production.
“We are proud that Kogi leads Nigeria in cassava production, and we are among the top producers of yam, maize, and other cereals.

We are making strategic investments to boost ginger farming, one of the most commercially viable crops globally today.
“To support all of this, we have revitalized our agricultural extension services, ensuring that technical advice, inputs, and monitoring reach the farmers where they are. We know that more than 80% of our agricultural produce comes from the rural areas.

Therefore, we are also investing in rural life, by remodeling healthcare facilities, building modern schools, electrifying underserved communities, and improving farm-to-market roads.

“What this partnership with Lagos achieves is market assurance. Our farmers can now produce with confidence, knowing that there is a structured and reliable offtake system in place. It is not just about farming anymore, it is about structured prosperity for the entire agricultural ecosystem,” he stated.

Governor Ododo applauded President Bola Tinubu’s Greener Hope Agricultural Productivity Programme, noting that with $1 billion already committed, agriculture is the new oil.

Mr. President has shown uncommon courage and clarity of purpose in redirecting our national energy toward food production and value chain development.
“Your Excellency, Mr. President, Nigeria needed a bold and patriotic leader who would not just echo hope, but implement it. In you, we have that leader. You are building a Nigeria that eats what it produces and produces what it eats.

“Kogi is proud to align fully with the Renewed Hope Agenda. Today’s event is not just symbolic; it is substantive. It marks a new vista of collaboration that puts people first and strengthens the pillars of national unity through shared prosperity.”
Governor Ododo assured the government and people of Lagos state that this partnership will not end on paper, adding that Kogi is committed to making it work for the sake of the farmers who plant, the traders who move, and the families who eat.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while launching the Produce for Lagos Programme and the ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund, revealed that the state food economy, which was ₦6.5 trillion annually, is now ₦16.14 trillion.

He asserted that Lagos is Nigeria’s largest food market, consuming over 50 per cent of the food traded in the Southwest.
According to the governor, research also showed that Lagos loses nearly 50 per cent of its food between harvest and the market, primarily due to poor storage and inefficient transportation.

“Then came 2020, and with it, the global COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed Lagos as highly dependent on food imports, and therefore vulnerable to global supply shocks. It became clear that we must transform our food system to ensure that Lagos can sustainably feed its people, both now and in the future.