Inspire Lagos Food Market offers 50% food subsidy, extends to Shomolu

The Inspire Lagos Food Market has extended its initiative to Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State in response to the rising cost of food and increasing concerns about hunger. The market aimed to provide low-income earners with access to affordable food, allowing them to purchase essential food items at half the usual price.

“Organizers of the initiative announced plans to continue expanding from one local government area to another, to alleviate food insecurity and support vulnerable households.

The Convener of Inspire Lagos Food Market, Abiola Adebajo emphasized the project’s urgency, saying, “The hunger is real, and food is very expensive. Many people have no choice but to buy food at high prices. This initiative is a 50% food subsidy market designed for the masses and everyone can benefit.”

Adebajo highlighted the harsh realities of the current economic climate, stating, “Some people believe others have money, but the truth is, even the average person has become poor in recent times. Personally, it affects me, and I know it affects many others.”

According to Adebajo, the project has received support from sponsors, donations, and individual contributions, enabling them to cater to thousands of people. “We are able to serve 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, and even 5,000 people who can buy food at half the price,” she explained.

The Inspire Lagos Food Market has so far reached Ikeja, Surulere, Ifako-Ijaiye, and now Shomolu. The initiative plans to expand further in April, with markets set to open in Kosofe and Egbe-Idimu. A high-profile celebrity has also pledged to sponsor the market for Easter, further boosting the initiative’s reach.

“Expressing gratitude for the support from local governments, Adebajo said, “We appreciate people like the Shomolu LG boss, Hon. Salawu, who warmly received us and was eager for us to bring the initiative to Shomolu.”

“The initiative leverages a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, partnering with vendors who register to sell food in bulk. The project operates on a subsidy model, where funds are allocated to food items such as rice and beans, enabling vendors to sell at half price. The subsidy is reimbursed to vendors, ensuring they do not incur losses.

Adebajo called on the government, political figures, VIPs, philanthropists, and the general public for support, noting that even small contributions can make a significant impact. She mentioned a dedicated donor who consistently supports the project from abroad.

The Executive Chairman, Abdul Hamed Salawu said : “We recognized the urgent need to care of everyone in the local government area, through this initiative brought by Inspire Lagos Food Market and they are extending beyond Shomolu. Many residents struggled to put food on the table, and the local government understood that swift action was necessary. This initiative was not just about numbers or policies; it was about people, families, children, and the elderly.

Apart from this, in the LG, we are guided by the vision of a community-focused initiative, and whenever we see opportunity as a leader we embrace. When the idea came to partner with Inspire, we accepted , you can see the people are happy. The food market provided not just sustenance, but also a sense of community and created hope for residents.

Moreover,Inspire contributed 25% of the necessary resources, while the local government matched this with another 25%. together, to make the 50% discounted price.The impact of this collaboration is clear as we witness Inspire Lagos and our local government coming together to achieve new goals. We are working to bring comfort to people through the provision of food at subside rate.

The Supervisor for Agriculture and Community Development of Shomolu LG,Ayodele Coker noted that residents have benefited from the local government’s agricultural initiative, which sources food items in bulk from northern Nigeria. “We ensure that food is sold at affordable prices, even though we lack farmlands. We engage in food security by buying directly from rural farmers in the North,” he explained.

Coker added that the local government must continue to support this initiative because it is essential to care for everyone. Just look at how happy the people are. When they are happy, we are happy too.