Governor of Nigeria’s Southwest Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has flagged off a Trader Money Initiative of N750 million on Saturday, December 16.
The initiative is intended to support low-income traders in the state to support their businesses.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made this announcement during the commissioning of the middle-level Fresh Food Agro Hub in Mushin, to expand the state’s food supply chain.
He said in its first phase, 15,000 traders will get N50,000 business grants across the state’s 57 local councils.
The governor stated that the trader money program is part of his pledge to the state’s traders, which will start before the end of 2023.
He claimed that 200 traders, regardless of location, will be chosen from each local government area in the state to guarantee that all traders receive part of the N750 million.
Sanwo-Olu added that, to the benefit of the state, the mid-level agro-hub built in the Mushin Idi-Oro Local Government Area will be duplicated throughout the state’s five divisions.
The Fresh Food Agro Hub in Mushin spans 6,400 square meters and features centralised wet and dry storage rooms for bulk purchases, and 3,017 square meters of parking space to accommodate trailers and automobiles.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, lauded the initiative, saying that the innovative method of food delivery in Lagos will track and address issues related to post-harvest losses, inflation, carbon footprint, and traffic congestion.
She added the flag-off of the initiative demonstrates the state government’s pledge to achieve the food systems Agenda according to the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
