A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at maximizing their respective advantages has been endorsed by the governors of Lagos and Niger state in Lagos.
The goal of this collaboration is to guarantee a consistent supply of agricultural goods to end users.
In an effort to take part in the Emergency Food Security Initiative, both states have come to an agreement known as the “Produce for Lagos Initiative,” whereby they seek to cultivate thousands of hectares in order to ensure a steady supply chain and food production.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) embodies a long-term, strategic partnership between the two governments, emphasizing their unique advantages. While Niger has a large amount of fertile land that is suitable for agricultural and food production, Lagos is home to a sizable, well-organized food market for consumers.
After the arrangement, the Lagos Food Logistics hubs would receive a sizable quantity of fresh agricultural products, guaranteeing effective distribution and storage.
An important milestone in this cooperative endeavor was reached when Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Mallam Umar Mohammed Bago of Niger State formally signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
“We have just put the pen to paper and signed the Government-to-Government agreement between Lagos and Niger states for agricultural production,” Governor Sanwo-Olu stated in remarks on the arrangement. It is no accident that the largest and smallest states are searching for ways to give their citizens the opportunity to benefit from this historic partnership—Lagos being the smallest in terms of landmass and Niger being the largest.
Governor of Niger State Umar Bago, for his part, called the agreement a historic one that capitalizes on each state’s comparative advantages.
The government of Lagos State previously participated in a similar rice-producing collaboration with Kebbi State, but the agreement did not achieve its goals. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in 2016 by Lagos Governor Ambode and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State to provide rice and other agricultural products to the state for consumption and processing.