The Federal Government, African Development Bank (AfDB) and the state government of Kaduna kick-started the construction of Phase 1 of the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.

The ceremony started in Kaduna, where the chief guest, AfDB President Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and the Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani participated. From Kaduna, Dr Adesina headed to Cross River State, where, together with the Federal Government and the State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu, a second groundbreaking ceremony will take place.

The 538 million dollars first phase of the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones program project includes eight states: Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory.

The programme launched in 2022 with $210 million from the African Development Bank and support from the Islamic Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms.

The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones program will boost Nigeria’s food production and reduction importation, generate jobs for youth, safeguard the country’s foreign exchange, and transform rural areas from areas of misery into zones of prosperity.

Last year, Nigeria spent $4.7 billion importing food.

The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme is designed to reverse this trend by unlocking local production potential and strengthening agro-industrial value chains nationwide.





(The Nation)