Hauwa Ali
As Nigeria grapples with rising food inflation and ongoing food security challenges, the Federal Government in collaboration with key international development partners, is taking decisive steps to accelerate the implementation of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project.
This effort involving the African Development Bank (AfDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Islamic Development Bank, and other stakeholders, aims to address the country’s agricultural needs by enhancing productivity, promoting sustainable practices, and fostering economic growth.
At a time when food prices continue to soar, with inflation rates affecting access to essential staples for millions of Nigerians, the SAPZ project represents a vital component of the government’s response to the crisis. The SAPZ program is designed to fast-track Nigeria’s transition to an agro-industrial economy, focusing on inclusive and sustainable development in the agricultural sector. By creating agro-industrial hubs, the initiative aims to increase efficiency in food production, processing, and distribution while promoting environmentally sustainable practices such as climate-smart agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
The first phase of the SAPZ project, which spans five years (2022–2026), is being implemented in eight selected states: Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Imo, Cross River, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, despite the ambitious goals, there have been delays in its execution, prompting the recent move by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to fast-track its progress.
To address the delays and find ways to speed up the project, the Ministry organized a two-day workshop, titled the ‘Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) States Steering and Technical Committee Workshop and Validation of the SAPZ Programme Operational Guidelines.’ The event, held in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, along with representatives from funding partners, to discuss how to overcome existing challenges and ensure the smooth and timely implementation of the SAPZ project.
Speaking at the event, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, acknowledged the obstacles that have slowed down the SAPZ project. He pointed to various logistical, financial, and infrastructural hurdles in the eight states where the project is being implemented. Despite these challenges, Kyari emphasized the importance of the SAPZ initiative in revitalizing Nigeria’s agricultural sector and thanked the project’s funding partners—AfDB, IFAD, and the Islamic Development Bank—for their continued commitment and belief in the project’s potential.
“We recognize the challenges facing the SAPZ project in these selected states, but we also see them as opportunities for growth. With the support of our development partners, we are confident that this project will be a game-changer for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation,” Kyari said.
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The SAPZ project is not only about improving food security but also about creating a ripple effect across Nigeria’s economy. The initiative is designed to spur job creation by attracting private sector investments in agriculture and related industries. By establishing agro-processing hubs, the project aims to add value to raw agricultural products, reduce post-harvest losses, and ensure that more of Nigeria’s agricultural produce is processed domestically rather than exported in raw form.
This approach is expected to create thousands of jobs across the agricultural value chain, from farming to processing, packaging, and distribution. It will also provide opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow by linking them with larger processors and providing access to technology, infrastructure, and markets.
Moreover, the SAPZ project is expected to contribute to sustainable economic growth by encouraging innovation and the adoption of modern agricultural practices. The use of climate-smart agriculture and other environmentally friendly technologies will help mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture, ensuring that Nigeria’s food production systems are more resilient to extreme weather events and other environmental challenges.
A major focus of the SAPZ project is the active involvement of the private sector in driving agricultural transformation. The project aims to create an enabling environment for private investors by providing the necessary infrastructure—such as roads, power, and water—within the agro-industrial zones. This infrastructure will lower the cost of doing business and attract both domestic and international investors to the agricultural sector.
During the workshop, stakeholders stressed the importance of building strong partnerships between the public sector, private investors, and local communities. These collaborations are essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the SAPZ project and for achieving its goals of job creation, food security, and economic growth.
While the SAPZ project holds immense potential, it faces several challenges that must be addressed to achieve its objectives. These include the need for improved infrastructure, the availability of financing for smallholder farmers, and the need for capacity-building programs to equip farmers with the skills needed to operate in a more industrialized agricultural system.
Despite these challenges, the commitment shown by the Federal Government and its international partners signals a strong determination to see the project succeed. The SAPZ project represents a bold step toward transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector, improving food security, and fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
As the Federal Government, AfDB, IFAD, and other stakeholders work to fast-track the SAPZ project, it remains a critical component of Nigeria’s strategy to address food inflation and ensure that its agricultural sector is positioned to meet the needs of its growing population. If successful, the SAPZ project could serve as a model for other African nations seeking to develop their agricultural sectors and improve food security through innovation, sustainability, and collaboration.
