Lagos State Government Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Niger State counterpart, Mallam Umar Mohammed Bago has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on food production.
The MoU brokered a strategic partnership with Niger State — a sub national entity with the largest agricultural farmland in the country — towards enhancing food production and security.
The agreement tagged “Produce for Lagos Initiative” is part of the efforts of the two parties to key into the Emergency Food Security Initiative declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cultivate thousands of hectares of land to sustain food production and supply chain.
This arrangement is a long term strategic partnership between the two States in building competencies around their areas of strength. While Lagos is positioned as a ready organised food market for consumers, Niger has its core strength in arable land for agriculture and food production.
The signing of the agreement will be followed by massive supply of fresh farm produce to the Lagos Food Logistics hubs for storage and distribution.
Sanwo-Olu said: “We have just put the pen to paper and signed the Government-to-Government agreement between Lagos and Niger states for agricultural production.
” Lagos, being the smallest State in terms of landmass, and Niger, being the largest State, is no coincidence that the biggest and the smallest are looking at opportunities for citizens of our states to be the beneficiaries of this historic partnership.”
Gov. Bago described the partnership as “a landmark” for both parties, noting that the North Central state was willing to leverage organised market in Lagos to boost economic activities in his State.
“Niger State is to produce agricultural commodities for Lagos State, and also process staple food items.
“Lagos State is to leverage the organised market and supply chain to meet consumers’ demands. This is basically the simple explanation of the Memorandum of Understanding, which is in tandem with Mr. President’s food security agenda.”
