The African Development Bank has onboarded 21 states, including Ogun, for the second phase of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, which aims to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape with an N850bn ($540m) investment.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, disclosed this after the 146th National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, stating that the programme is expected to bolster food security and economic growth.
He said, “The Council resolved and urged all states to key into this programme because it is a game changer.
It will go a long way in tackling the Federal Government’s food security goals.”
The SAPZ initiative, which began with a pilot phase involving Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Cross River States, and the Federal Capital Territory, is at the disbursement stage for phase one.
Governor Uzodinma revealed that Kaduna, Oyo, and Cross River are already receiving funds, urging other states to accelerate their documentation to fast-track disbursements.
Senior Special Adviser on Industrialisation to the AfDB President, Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, confirmed that the pilot states would soon receive the first tranche of $540m to develop SAPZs.
He added that the programme targets inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial development, with plans to convert rural areas into economic hubs of prosperity.
“Phase one is at the point of disbursement. We hope other states can speed up their documentation.
The next stage, phase two, will onboard 27 states with eligibility criteria, including feasibility reports, environmental impact studies, and counterpart funding commitments,” Oyelaran-Oyeyinka explained.
The SAPZ programme will provide key infrastructure, such as agro-industrial hubs, farm-to-market roads, irrigated lands, and agricultural transformation centers.
Additionally, it will supply certified agricultural inputs, train farmers and MSMEs, and develop a regulatory framework for agro-industrial zones.
In a related development, the National Economic Council urged states to leverage the services of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in maintaining agricultural machinery, particularly tractors, and promoting solar-powered equipment.
Uzodinma noted that NASENI has committed to supporting land reclamation, manufacturing, and seaport development to complement the SAPZ programme.
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