The need to ensure food security for the citizenry cannot be more opportune than now, given the present economic challenges faced by the ordinary Nigerian. Along this line, the recent launch by the Lagos State government to enhance food production in the country, in conjunction with the private sector and the take-off of a N500 billion guarantee fund, is quite commendable. Some may call it “medicine after death” given that some of the economic challenges could have been avoidable by more programmed implementation of economic policy, nonetheless, it is better late than never in the effort to ensure that one of the three basic needs of life of food, shelter and clothing is made available to the people at reasonable prices.
The conception of the programme, according to the Governor of the State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, appears reflective of his administration’s commitment to achieving food security, inclusive prosperity, and sustainable growth. According to the programme design, this is not just for Lagos State, but for Nigeria. This is laudable, though experiences show that very good programmes fail at the point of implementation.
Hence, as it’s often said, “talk is always cheap”. The conception which is based on the fact that Lagos is Nigeria’s largest food market, consuming over 50 per cent of the food traded in the South-West, with a food economy valued at N16.14 trillion appears to tick the right boxes in ensuring that the elusive food security which appears to have been mere slogan under previous administrations is being confronted headlong.
The optimism expressed by the state government that the programme would provide guaranteed off-take contracts, provide access to financing and logistics support in addition to connecting residents directly with the inherent dynamic food economy is pleasant to hear. This is coupled with the fact that the initiative is a partnership between the state government and the private sector to boost agricultural production. It is also good to know that functional structures have been put in place to drive the process, such that implementation will be made through the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company (LAFSINCO) and supported by key Special Purpose Vehicles like the Lagos Bulk Trading Company, Ekolog (Eko Logistics), and the Produce for Lagos Fund.
According to the Governor, “this N500 Billion Offtake Guarantee Fund will provide working capital for bulk traders, finance for logistics operators, liquidity for aggregators, and credit support for food producers across Nigeria.” He inferred a demonstration of the government’s understanding that the food economy requires financing, given that policy alone cannot do it. However, it is made clear that the guarantee fund is not a subsidisation of the food production value chain but an investment vehicle that will catalyse private capital, stabilise food prices, and de-risk agricultural operations across the value chain.
It is thus no wonder that the scheme has received the support of governors of Ogun, Niger, Taraba and Kogi in addition to the commendations of the ministers of Communications and Digital Economy, Livestock Development, minister of State for Finance and the military through the Chief of Defence Staff who severally commended the state’s commitment to food security and partnership with other states as well as the programme’s expectation to work well in addressing food security challenges in the state.
The provision of affordable food to the populace has, over the years, been a major challenge, more so with the increase in the tempo of insecurity in the country, such that farmers hardly have confidence in going to farm for fear of being killed, kidnapped or even raped, in the case of women. This sorry situation has exacerbated the level of poverty in the country, such that a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that over 130 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor. The basic factor in the growth of this poverty figure is the lack of adequate and affordable food to go around for the majority of Nigerians. Hence, any programme in whatever form that attempts to attack this food insufficiency problem is worthy of commendation.
Finally, the programme should go beyond speeches and ceremonies. As is often said, “If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride”. It is not enough to come up with laudable programmes. The key thing is to generate results that would address the needs of the citizenry. Nigerians have gone through a lot of suffering in the past few years, and it would be wicked of any administration, whether at the federal or state levels, to raise their hope through bogus programmes and end up dashing those hopes. The Lagos State government should get its act right and ensure that this laudable programme works and the results are visible in the enhancement of the human condition in the country, especially in the enhancement of food security.
