The African Development Bank (AfDB) has expanded its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme to 21 additional states, marking the commencement of its second phase.
This update was shared by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma after the 146th National Economic Council meeting in Abuja. Uzodinma highlighted that projects under the programme’s pilot phase—implemented in Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Cross River States, and the Federal Capital Territory—are nearing completion.
Encouraging broader participation, Uzodinma noted, “The Council resolved and urged all the states to key into this programme because it is going to be a game changer in tackling food security.”
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The SAPZ Programme, designed to transform Nigeria’s rural areas into thriving agro-industrial hubs, has secured $540 million in funding from AfDB for its pilot phase. According to AfDB’s Senior Special Adviser on Industrialisation, Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, the initiative aims to drive inclusive, sustainable development by integrating private-sector involvement.
Key features of the programme include establishing Agro-Industrial Processing Hubs, improving farm-to-market roads, providing certified agricultural inputs, and enhancing skills for farmers and MSMEs. States must meet criteria such as feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments to participate.
Additionally, the National Economic Council called on states to collaborate with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to repair and maintain agricultural equipment like tractors. NASENI also proposed initiatives for solar-powered rural electrification, land reclamation, and industrial development.
Uzodinma emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in ensuring the success of both the SAPZ Programme and NASENI’s initiatives, which are expected to bolster Nigeria’s agricultural and industrial sectors.
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