The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, today received Ms. Anshula Kant, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of the World Bank, for a high-level engagement focused on deepening economic reforms and mobilising private capital for growth.

Ms. Kant, who led a senior delegation to Abuja, described Nigeria as a cornerstone of the World Bank’s Africa strategy and praised the government’s bold macroeconomic reforms, including foreign exchange liberalisation and subsidy removal, for restoring investor confidence and laying the foundations for inclusive, private sector–driven development.

*Nigeria’s reform momentum is both necessary and commendable,* she noted. *We stand ready to accelerate our support, particularly in energy, digital access, and youth employment, the pillars of a competitive, future-facing economy.*

HM Edun reiterated that Nigeria’s priority is scaling growth through strategic investment in infrastructure, agriculture, and digital innovation. He cited renewed investor interest, improved reserves, and over $7 billion in oil and gas commitments as early signals of success. *The path to sustainable prosperity lies in unlocking private investment. The World Bank’s partnership is critical to achieving this,* he said.

The meeting also explored innovative financial tools to reduce the cost of capital and boost SME financing, including blended finance platforms and new guarantee instruments under MIGA.

The session concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration, ensuring Nigeria’s reforms translate into jobs, capital flows, and resilient economic growth for the benefit of all.

The Federal Government has applauded the launch of the Produce for Lagos Programme and ₦500 Billion Off-Take Guarantee Fund, saying the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun gave the commendation today in his remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony held in Lagos. 

Represented by the Honourable Minister of State for Finance Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the  Minister highlighted the transformative potential of the programme, stating that it underscores the collective commitment to national food security and exemplifies the transformational power of partnership across levels of government and the private sector.

He stated that the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies agriculture as a foundational and futuristic pillar of Nigeria’s national development architecture. 

HM Edun emphasized that the programme will unlock the productive potential of farmers, traders, processors, and transporters and promote inter-state economic solidarity.

*We are blessed with vibrant populations, abundant natural resources, and an entrepreneurial spirit that positions us not as competitors, but as partners with a shared vision of resilient economies, inclusive growth, and sustainable development,* he stated.

The ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund was highlighted as a bold and timely intervention, providing assurance to farmers, agribusinesses, and investors, and reducing risks associated with agricultural investments. *It tells every farmer that their sweat will be matched with sustainability. Every agribusiness that their risks will be reduced. Every investor that agriculture is bankable, investable, and scalable,* the Minister emphasized.

Edun also highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to revamping and scaling the agricultural sector through various initiatives, including the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket Programme (NAGS-AP), and the development of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs). 

A $1 billion strategic agreement with the Government of Brazil under the Green Imperative Project was also mentioned, aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s agricultural landscape through the provision of 10,000 tractors, modern farm implements, and agro-processing equipment.

He commended the visionary team behind the project and called on all stakeholders to join hands in building a future where Lagos feeds itself and contributes meaningfully to national food sufficiency. *Let it be a call to action for all stakeholders to join hands in building a future where Lagos feeds itself—and contributes meaningfully to national food sufficiency,* the Minister concluded.

The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering local government institutions as a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth.

 Speaking at a high-level policy dialogue hosted by AGORA Policy with support from the MacArthur Foundation, the Minister  underscored that strengthening local governance is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s poverty reduction strategy. *Grassroots empowerment is not just a governance issue, it’s an economic imperative,* he said.

HM Edun referenced the Federal Government’s recent compliance with the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on local government autonomy, affirming that only democratically elected local councils now receive direct allocations from the Federation Account. This, he clarified, is not a policy choice but the government’s constitutional obligation to uphold the judgment of the highest court of the land.

To reinforce this shift, the Federal Government has launched targeted initiatives including the Nutrition 774 Programme, Project 774 Digital Connectivity, and the HOPE Programme supported by the World Bank. Each intervention is designed to drive outcomes in human capital development, digital access, and local-level service efficiency — all critical to unlocking Nigeria’s long-term productivity.

*These are not symbolic gestures,* Edun stated. *They are structured investments in governance that catalyse private sector confidence, reduce economic exclusion, and foster scalable development.*

He concluded by calling for deeper coordination between all tiers of government, emphasising that the full economic benefit of local government reform can only be realised through strategic collaboration and policy discipline.