Ope George, Lagos Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, is making the case that Nigeria's food systems cannot be fixed by a single agency or a single policy push. Speaking recently, George said that what the country truly needs is coordinated policies and sustained collaboration to drive any meaningful transformation in how food is produced, distributed, and consumed across the nation.
The Commissioner's position speaks to a growing conversation among policymakers and development experts about the fragmented nature of Nigeria's agricultural and food infrastructure. When ministries work in silos and funding cycles are short, the gains made in one season can quietly unravel in the next.
George's call for sustained collaboration is a reminder that transformation in food systems is a long game, not a quick harvest. The question now is which institutions are ready to stay at the table long enough to see it through.
Originally published by BusinessDay.