The Kogi State Government has expressed confidence that its partnership with Lagos State under the Food for Lagos initiative will significantly increase the income of local farmers and drive agricultural development.
In a statement released on Thursday, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, affirmed the state’s unwavering commitment to transforming its agricultural sector and improving the livelihoods of farmers through this strategic alliance, which aims to establish a reliable food supply chain between Kogi and Lagos.
Fanwo emphasized that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has already begun taking tangible steps to translate the agreement into action. Within two weeks of the official signing, the administration has launched initiatives to enhance food production, upgrade rural infrastructure, and attract key investments in agriculture.
“The governor didn’t just sign a document and walk away. Since returning, he’s been hands-on, working to ensure this partnership delivers results,” Fanwo stated. “Kogi farmers are now positioned to earn more from their produce, thanks to the expanding access to larger markets like Lagos.”
According to him, the Ministry of Agriculture has already identified specific areas across the state with strong comparative advantages for particular crops, laying the groundwork for regional contributions to a larger agricultural value chain.
Fanwo noted that Kogi is already a leading cassava producer in Nigeria and West Africa, and the state is actively positioning itself to take the lead in other areas of food production.
“We are not just declaring ourselves as the food basket of the nation—we are taking deliberate and strategic steps to make it a reality,” he added.
The commissioner praised Governor Ododo as a visionary leader who has prioritized agriculture from day one. He highlighted that Ododo had made food security and self-sufficiency a key part of his campaign and inaugural address—and is now delivering on those promises.
Several flagship projects are currently being implemented to support the governor’s agenda, including the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), which is improving access to markets through rural road rehabilitation, and ACReSAL (Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes), which is investing in rural communities across the state.
“We’ve never seen this level of attention and resources directed at agriculture in Kogi before. Youth and women, from Ibaji to Gegu and Egbe, are playing a major role in the agricultural revival,” Fanwo said.
He also pointed out that enhanced efforts in tackling rural insecurity have created a safer environment for farming activities, increasing the confidence of local producers.
Fanwo described the Food for Lagos project as a transformative effort that will not only address food supply challenges in Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous state, but also stimulate wealth creation and economic growth in Kogi.
“If properly implemented, this initiative has the power to make Kogi farmers significantly wealthier and strengthen the state’s economy,” he concluded.
The Food for Lagos initiative, launched on July 23, includes a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Lagos and four partner states—Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Ogun. The ₦500 billion project seeks to fortify the food supply chain, stabilize food prices, and ensure consistent market access for farmers across partnering states.
The agreement covers agricultural production, logistics, and distribution, and aims to reduce Lagos’ over-reliance on external food sources by creating a sustainable inter-state food network.