FAO and Lagos State Mobilize Investors to Scale Red Meat, Aquaculture and Coconut Value Chains
Lagos, Nigeria – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Lagos State Government have concluded a two-day Investment Roundtable aimed at promoting private and public investment in the Lagos State Coconut, Red Meat and Aquaculture Value chains sectors. Held on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday, 17 December 2025 in Lagos state, the roundtable brought together senior government officials, international financial institutions, commercial banks, private sector investors, development partners, and technical experts to discuss financing, investment models, and partnerships proposals with the Lagos State government on a clear pathway for implementation.
The event builds on extensive technical assistance provided through the FAO Technical Cooperation Project on the feasibility and value chain analysis of the Lagos State Cattle Feedlot Farm Estate, as well as the FAO–UNIDO-supported Coconut Value Chain Programme and the FAO FISH4ACP project. These initiatives have generated bankable investment cases and detailed economic, financial, and environmental sustainability analyses designed to appraise sustainability of agrifood transformation in Lagos State.
Discussions over the two days focused on presenting evidence-based investment opportunities, identifying policy and financing gaps, and strengthening partnerships across government, the private sector and development partners. Participants also explored how the Red Meat and Coconut value chains align with national agrifood priorities and the FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative a country-led, evidence-based approach that accelerates agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development while aligning with national priorities, including Nigeria’s National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).
Tofiq Braimah, Programme Officer, delivered the speech on behalf of Dr Hussein Gadain, the FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, at the event, highlighting FAO’s role in supporting governments to translate technical analysis into actionable investments.
“Our collaboration with Lagos State is anchored on strategic investment analysis in key value chains—including coconut, livestock, and feedlot systems—to attract private sector and multilateral investments. These analyses provide evidence-based insights that guide strategic decisions, ensuring investments are impactful, sustainable, and inclusive,” he said.
The Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to creating an enabling environment for agribusiness investment, with a strong emphasis on food safety, value addition, job creation, and environmental sustainability.
“Lagos offers what serious investors look for: a large market, active private sector, improving infrastructure, and government commitment to transforming the agrifood systems in the state. In both value chains, the evidence shows that actors can be profitable when systems work efficiently, and standards are strengthened. Our role as government is clear: to set the rules, enable investments, coordinate stakeholders, protect consumers, and ensure sustainability, so that the private sector can scale,” said Ms. Ruth Abisola Olusanya, Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Lagos State.
Participants reviewed detailed investment proposals for the Lagos State Red Meat Initiative, the Coconut value chain, and the aquaculture strategy, including cost–benefit analyses, environmental compliance, and expected returns. Panel discussions examined agrifood system transformation, trade barriers, public–private partnership models and financing options for scaling priority value chains. Targeted matchmaking sessions outlined pathways to mobilise financing and advance implementation. These actions aim to accelerate resource mobilization and support the practical rollout of the Red Meat Initiative and Coconut Value Chain Programme in line with national agrifood priorities and the FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative.
The roundtable concluded with agreement on next steps, including bilateral engagement with interested investors, identification of technical assistance needs, and preparation towards a broader Lagos State Investment Summit.
Related Links
https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/8bc4c309-b966-44d1-9bb1-d89ec23a75d2
Contacts:
Kev Esteban Del Castillo
Program Development, Partnerships, & Communications Lead
FAO Nigeria
David Tsokar
Communications Specialist
FAO Nigeria
Chukwuka Kelvin Nwachukwu
Communications Specialist
FAO Nigeria