In fulfilment of his promise and demonstration of love to market men and women on Valentine’s Day, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, flagged off the distribution of N750 million financial intervention scheme, tagged ‘Lagos Market Trader Money’ for 15,000 beneficiaries.
The 15,000 beneficiaries, who received N50,000 each, were drawn from across all the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, but are all residents of Lagos.
During the project launch oat De Blue Roof, Agidingbi, Ikeja, the governor said that the gesture would go a long way to actualise his goal of transforming the food systems in the state and stimulate economic activities in various food markets, in line with his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ developmental agenda.
During the commissioning of the Mid-Level Agro-produce Hub, Idi-Oro, Mushin last 17th December, Sanwo-Olu announced a N750 million financial intervention scheme for Lagos traders.
The governor fulfilled his promise in less than 60 days as 250 traders from each of 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Development Council Areas (LCDAs), as well as 750 beneficiaries identified from markets within the barracks and military formations across the state received N50,000 each on Wednesday.
Sanwo-Olu implored the beneficiaries to make the best and judicious use of the grant in ways that would contribute to the economic development of the state.
“I urge you to let the citizens of Lagos feel the impact of this grant and all the other support that this administration has been providing towards ensuring food security, through reasonable reduction in the cost of basic food items in a way that it will be affordable to ordinary Lagosians”, he said.
The governor said that the initiative was conceptualised as a stop-gap measure of the state government to empower small-scale traders in the food systems by providing them financial support to expand their businesses thereby fostering economic growth and improving the lives of many within the state.
He said: “This will ensure sustainable livelihoods and facilitate business expansion for 15,000 traders who occupy a strategic position in the State’s economic pyramid and food distribution network.
“Lagos State, which has a growing population presently estimated at over 24 million has a food system transaction value of over N6 trillion annually, is in the process of establishing a dynamic food market system under the Food Systems Transformation Agenda to promote the preservation, storage, transportation and presentation of wholesome food to the populace, with the aim of reducing food waste, improve affordability, guarantee food safety, quality and accessibility.
“This initiative led to the implementation of key projects such as the establishment of the Lagos Central Food Security System and Logistics Hub, Ketu-Ereyun, Epe and the Mid-Level Agro Produce Hub, Idi-Oro, Mushin. As a mark of our resolve to follow through with the Agenda, work has commenced on three additional Mid-Level Agro-Produce Hubs at Sangotedo, Agege, and Abule-Ado, while the first phase of the Lagos Central Food Security System and Logistics Hub will be commissioned by December 2024″.
On how the 15,000 traders were selected for the Lagos Market Trader Money, Sanwo-Olu disclosed: “The beneficiaries were identified by the state’s Agricultural Field Officers serving each LGA/LCDA in collaboration with the Iyaloja/Babaloja General and Market Masters of each Local Government/Local Council Development Area across the state.
“The beneficiaries were selected through a methodical process targeted at 200 beneficiaries from markets in each LGA/LCDA in addition to 50 beneficiaries that were selected by the Iyaloja/Babaloja General in each LGA/LCDA making a total of 14,250 market traders.
“Also, 750 beneficiaries were identified from markets within the barracks and military formations across the state in collaboration with their respective Iyaloja/Babaloja. This brings the total number of beneficiaries to 15,000.
“To ensure fairness in the selection process while demonstrating the spirit of Lagos as being home to all, the beneficiaries were drawn from across all the geopolitical zones of the nation with 11,039 from the South West, 914 from the South East, 868 from the South-South, 1,710 from North Central, 373 from the North West and 107 from the North East”.
The governor also noted that 75 per cent of the beneficiaries are women, while 35 per cent are below 40 years. He said that that goes to show the social inclusiveness in implementing the initiative.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya said that the initiative is part of the government’s efforts towards ensuring sustainable livelihoods and wealth creation for traders across the state.
She said: “This initiative is part of the state government’s commitment to the development of the downstream segment of food and agricultural value chains which centers on markets and market access. This is due to the fact that Lagos is the largest market city-state in sub-Saharan Africa.
“The support that would be extended today is targeted at expanding the capacity of the beneficiaries to off-take more produce from our farmers thereby catalysing increased food production in and outside the state.
“This initiative, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Local Governments, in collaboration with market leaders across all the 57 LGAs and LCDAs is only the first of many to be launched by Mr. Governor towards helping to shoulder the burdens of the citizenry, ranging from food, health, education to transportation”.
Also, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Folasade Tinubu-Ojo appreciated the governor for the good gestures to market men and women in the state.
Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo enjoined traders, who are beneficiaries, to make good use of the N50,000 given to them to augment their businesses.
