Abuja, April 8, 2025 – The Federal Government, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), is set to begin the implementation of its ambitious agro-industrial projects aimed at bolstering food security across Nigeria. The first phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, worth $538 million, is slated to commence in Kaduna today.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to an official statement from AfDB, Vice President Kashim Shettima and AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, will attend the groundbreaking ceremony in Kaduna, which will be hosted by Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani. Following the event in Kaduna, Dr. Adesina will travel to Cross River, where another groundbreaking ceremony will take place under the leadership of Cross River Governor, Bassey Otu.
The SAPZ Phase 1 programme spans across eight locations, including Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory. The initiative, inaugurated in 2022, received $210 million in funding from AfDB, with additional support from the Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms.
The primary goal of the SAPZ programme is to increase Nigeria’s agricultural production, reduce food imports, and create jobs while transforming rural areas into productive economic hubs. In 2023, Nigeria spent $4.7 billion on food imports, and the programme seeks to address this by enhancing local production and strengthening value chains.
“The project aims to improve agricultural productivity by more than 60%, reduce post-harvest losses, and support agro-processing from farm to market,” the statement explained. The Kaduna hub will focus on maize, soybeans, ginger, and tomatoes, while the Cross River hub will target cocoa, cassava, and rice production.
The programme also intends to build agro-industrial hubs, transformation centers, and aggregation facilities in both Kaduna and Cross River. These facilities will be strategically located near universities, such as Ahmadu Bello University in Kaduna and the University of Calabar, to leverage research and skilled manpower.
According to project estimates, each participating state is expected to generate over 60,000 jobs, contributing to the country’s economic growth and job creation efforts. The ceremony will be attended by various federal and state officials, as well as development partners, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s agricultural development.
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