...when the centre of excellence meets the food basket of the nation, opportunity takes root. The Benue state deputy governor - H.E. Barr. Sam Ode, led an agribusiness delegation to Lagos to foster the Produce-for-Lagos partnership, connecting Benue’s abundance with Lagos’ vast market. @followlasg @lagosagric1 @benuestategovt @ProduceforLagos

...🌽 🌽 🌽...Maize covers a vast expanse of the farm, as well as feed grass for cattle. A heavy WIP. @jidesanwoolu @drobafemihamzat @followlasg @lagosagric1 @ProduceforLagos @lagos_agriclub

...Agege, Pen cinema @followlasg @lagosagric1 @ProduceforLagos @lagos_agriclub

Why food security is not an agricultural problem - Limitations of Production We often describe food security as an agricultural problem. I have come to believe that it is something much bigger. Agriculture is indispensable. Without farmers, there is no food. Yet, through years of working across agricultural value chains and, more recently, through the broader lens of food systems, I have come to appreciate that food security depends on far more than what happens on the farm. A basket of tomatoes harvested in Kano does not arrive on a family's table in Lagos simply because it was successfully grown. Between production and consumption lies an entire ecosystem of transporters, storage facilities, markets, financiers, logistics providers, infrastructure, information systems and public institutions. Each determines whether food reaches consumers on time, in good condition and at a price they can afford. Farms produce food. Food systems deliver food security. Reliable energy preserves food. Efficient logistics move it. Markets connect producers to consumers. Finance unlocks investment. Data improves decision-making. Governance provides the environment within which all these systems operate. The way we define a problem shapes the solutions we pursue. If food security is viewed only through the lens of agricultural production, increasing output naturally becomes the priority. Production is essential, but it does not explain why food prices remain high despite good harvests, why post-harvest losses persist, or why farmers and consumers can both feel underserved by the same food system. Countries that have transformed their food systems understood this long ago. Their success was built not only on higher agricultural output, but on sustained investments in infrastructure, logistics, market systems, finance, research, technology and institutions that enabled food to move efficiently from areas of surplus to areas of demand. Nigeria's challenge is therefore not simply whether we can produce more food. It is whether we can build systems capable of moving, preserving, financing, processing and distributing that food efficiently enough to make it consistently available and affordable. Looking at food security through this wider lens does not diminish the importance of agriculture. It simply recognizes that agriculture is one part of a much larger system whose strength ultimately determines whether food reaches every household. In the next article, I will introduce a food security dependency map and explore how energy, infrastructure, logistics, finance, governance, data and markets interact to either reinforce food insecurity or create the conditions for a more resilient food future. #TheLagosFoodArchitectSeries

Part B: Connecting the dots In my previous article, I posited that food security is better understood as a systems challenge than as an agricultural challenge. Production remains essential, but the availability, affordability and safety of food are ultimately determined by a much wider set of factors. The question then becomes: how do these factors interact? To help answer that question, I recently developed what I call a food security dependency map (with the help of AI) - a way of visualizing something that is often overlooked. Food security is not a standalone system but an outcome produced by the interaction of several other systems. Each influences food security directly, but perhaps more importantly, they also influence one another. This interconnectedness explains why progress can sometimes feel slower than expected, even when substantial effort is being invested in agriculture itself. For example, we often describe post-harvest losses as a storage or transportation problem. In reality, they are just as much an energy problem. Cold rooms, refrigerated trucks and processing facilities all depend on reliable electricity. When power supply is inconsistent, businesses compensate by relying on generators and alternative energy sources, significantly increasing operating costs. Those additional costs are eventually reflected in the price consumers pay, while also reducing the incentive for private investment in cold chain infrastructure. What initially appears to be a food preservation challenge quickly reveals itself as an energy challenge. A similar relationship exists between finance and data - Access to finance is frequently identified as one of the greatest constraints facing businesses across the food system. Yet financial institutions do not lend based on optimism alone but on information. Reliable data allows lenders to assess risk, understand business performance and make informed credit decisions. Where economic activity remains largely informal and reliable records are scarce, risk becomes harder to quantify, making access to finance more difficult, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises - this reduces investment in storage facilities, logistics, processing plants, aggregation centres and market infrastructure. What initially appears to be a financing problem is therefore, in many respects, also a data problem. These examples illustrate a broader principle - What we often describe as separate problems are, in reality, symptoms of deeper interactions between multiple systems. Addressing one issue while ignoring the systems surrounding it may deliver incremental improvements, but it rarely produces transformational change. This is why conversations around food security need to become more integrated. Rather than asking only how to increase production, we should equally be focused on our energy systems, our data systems etc. For sustainable food security, the collective defines the whole.

..."Innovation creates value, and value attracts capital." This is our belief at the Ministry of Ag & food systems @lagosagric1, and our kick off of the Lagos Agrithon 2026 underscores this. Under our Governor's @jidesanwoolu vision for young food enterprises, agrinnovators this year have a chance to get a grant in the N200million pool. Visit lagosagric.com and lagosagrinnovation.com/agrit… for more information @drobafemihamzat @followlasg @lagos_agriclub.

UPDATE 🚨 The Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems has commenced the registration of farmers' operating in Lagos State under the Produce for Lagos Programme. The Programme focuses on both boosting food production within Lagos and establishing strategic partnerships with farmers in major food-producing States across the country. By enrolling, farmers will be integrated into a central database which will serve as the foundation for planning, interventions, and the delivery of support services under the Programme. Farmers are encouraged to register via the official link: bit.ly/48dAWil

Coming soon: The Abijo Mid-Level Agro Food Hub. As one of the four tiers of the Produce for Lagos Programme, this food hub is designed to serve as a central link between farmers, markets, and consumers, improving food storage, distribution, accessibility and reducing post harvest loss. #ProduceForLagos #LagosAgricAndFoodSystems

‘Agriculture is more than food, it’s a pathway to prosperity’ General C.G Musa Chief of Defence Staff #ProduceForLagos #LagosAgricAndFoodSystems

Launch of the N500 Billion Produce for Lagos - Prince S.J Samuel (Partnership that work) youtu.be/XaKEl4gCORM

A defining moment for Nigeria’s food future. Scenes from the official launch of the PRODUCE FOR LAGOS Programme, where innovation met collaboration to drive agricultural transformation. #ProduceForLagos #LagosAgricAndFoodSystems

From Farmland to City Market. A National Effort. At the launch of the PRODUCE FOR LAGOS Programme, invited Governors of Ogun State, Niger State, Taraba State, and Kogi State joined a fireside chat with the Lagos State Governor to discuss a unified approach to feeding Nigeria. With vast agricultural lands in their states and Lagos serving as a major food market hub, this conversation marked a pivotal moment where collaboration replaces competition, and production meets distribution. This is what a working federation looks like, states contributing uniquely, collectively strengthening our food systems. Powered by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company. #ProduceForLagos #LagosAgricAndFoodSystems

Driving the Vision Forward. In this special feature on Arise News, the CEO of one of our key partner companies, Origin Tech Group, Prince S.J Samuel, shares deep insights into the PRODUCE FOR LAGOS Programme, its goals, national impact, and the power of public-private collaboration in reshaping Nigeria’s food systems. From infrastructure to innovation, this is a candid and timely conversation on what it takes to make food security a reality. Powered by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company and committed private sector leaders. #ProduceForLagos #LagosAgricAndFoodSystems

Leadership with Purpose. Vision for Impact. At the official launch of the PRODUCE FOR LAGOS Programme, the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, delivered a powerful address setting the tone for a bold, collaborative approach to transforming Nigeria’s food systems. His message was clear: Lagos is ready to work with producers, partners, and stakeholders across the country to ensure food moves efficiently, sustainably, and inclusively. Watch the full video of this defining moment on YouTube. Link in bio Powered by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company #ProduceForLagos #LagosAgricAndFoodSystems

At the heart of the PRODUCE FOR LAGOS Programme are the faces behind the vision, producers, leaders, innovators, and stakeholders who showed up to shape Nigeria’s food future. These powerful moments captured during the launch reflect a shared commitment to collaboration, investment, and real solutions in agriculture and food systems. Backed by the Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company #ProduceForLagos #LagosAgricAndFoodSystems

“A bright new horizon, creating opportunities for today, securing the future for tomorrow.” His Excellency, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu Governor of Lagos State. At the PRODUCE FOR LAGOS Programme Launch, the Governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to building a future where agriculture drives opportunity, safeguards food security, and protects generations to come. #ProduceForLagos #LagosAgricAndFoodSystems

The launch of the PRODUCE FOR LAGOS Programme brought together an incredible mix of producers, partners, policymakers, and change-makers, all united by one vision: building a stronger, more resilient food system for Nigeria. From conversations to commitments, the energy in the room was undeniable. These are the people driving the future of agriculture forward and this is just the beginning. Powered by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company #ProduceForLagos #LagosAgricAndFoodSystems