The Federal Government has secured a fresh commitment from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to scale up agricultural investments in Nigeria as the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme expands to 24 states across the federation.
The announcement came after high-level discussions between Nigerian officials and the AfDB, with both parties reaffirming their shared vision to accelerate food production, create jobs, and strengthen agro-industrial value chains.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed that the SAPZ initiative—designed to cluster farmers, processors, and service providers around areas of high agricultural potential—has recorded significant progress since its pilot phase. With the expansion to 24 states, he said, the programme will boost productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and drive inclusive growth in rural communities.
“We are building a future where agriculture becomes the backbone of Nigeria’s economy once again. The AfDB’s support is critical, not just for financing, but for technical expertise and global best practices that will help us unlock the sector’s full potential,” Kyari stated.
AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, emphasized that Nigeria remains central to Africa’s food security, assuring that the Bank is committed to mobilizing additional resources for the programme. He noted that the SAPZ model has already attracted private sector interest and would transform agricultural corridors into agro-industrial hubs, capable of processing crops such as rice, cassava, maize, cocoa, and tomatoes for local consumption and export.
Experts say the expansion of SAPZ to 24 states is a major step toward achieving President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda, with the potential to create thousands of jobs, enhance rural livelihoods, and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on food imports.
The SAPZ programme, which began with pilot projects in states like Ogun, Oyo, and Kaduna, will now cover nearly two-thirds of the country, ensuring wider geographical spread and impact.
Stakeholders in the sector, including farmers’ associations and agribusiness leaders, have welcomed the move, describing it as a “game-changer” that could reposition Nigeria as a regional powerhouse in agro-industrial production.
