Keypoints:
- $538m SAPZ project spans 8 states
- Targets 60,000+ jobs per pilot state
- Aims to cut food imports, boost output
NIGERIA has officially launched a $538 million initiative to overhaul its agricultural sector, reduce food imports, and create thousands of new jobs. The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme began with groundbreaking ceremonies on Tuesday, 8 April, in Kaduna and Cross River states.
The programme is a joint effort by the Federal Government, the African Development Bank, and state governments — with support from international development partners. According to an official statement by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the SAPZ will reposition Nigeria’s agriculture as a catalyst for industrialisation and rural transformation.
Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB, led the launch alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani. Speaking in Kaduna, Dr Adesina described the programme as a game-changer for food systems across the country.
‘We are turning zones of economic misery into zones of economic prosperity,’ said Adesina.
Following the Kaduna event, Dr Adesina joined Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu for a second launch in Calabar, reinforcing the nationwide scope of the project.
Transforming agriculture into big business
The first phase of the SAPZ project covers eight locations: Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory. It is backed by $210 million from the AfDB, with additional financing from the Islamic Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and private sector partner ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms.
As noted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the initiative will create regional hubs that link farmers to processors and markets, dramatically reducing post-harvest losses while raising incomes and yields.
According to the Ministry, ‘The SAPZ model aligns with the government’s goal of creating jobs, enhancing food self-sufficiency, and driving rural development.’
Hubs, jobs, and value chains
The zones will be equipped with Agro-Industrial Hubs, Agricultural Transformation Centres, and Aggregation Points, creating streamlined farm-to-market infrastructure.
The government projects that SAPZ will generate over 60,000 jobs per participating state, with a focus on engaging youth and stimulating private sector investment. According to the Kaduna State Government, the state’s SAPZ will concentrate on maize, soybeans, ginger, and tomatoes.
In Cross River, authorities plan to harness the state’s agricultural strengths in cocoa, cassava, and rice. Both states have strategically located their SAPZ hubs near research-intensive institutions — Ahmadu Bello University in Kaduna and the University of Calabar — to drive innovation and skilled talent development.
Reversing Nigeria’s food import dependence
In 2024, Nigeria spent $4.7bn on food imports, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. SAPZ is designed to reverse this trend by unlocking local agricultural productivity and promoting value-added processing.
The AfDB notes that SAPZ is expected to boost agricultural output by over 60 percent, significantly reducing Nigeria’s dependency on foreign food and conserving foreign exchange reserves.
‘What we are building is not just infrastructure,’ said Dr Adesina. ‘We are building wealth, jobs, and economic resilience for generations to come.’
Strategic investment in Africa’s future
With 37 percent of the AfDB’s $5.1bn Nigeria portfolio now committed to private-sector-driven initiatives, including SAPZ, the project signals a clear shift towards industrial agriculture as a pillar of national development.
As state governors, federal officials, and development partners gathered for the launch, Nigeria underscored its readiness to become a continental leader in agro-industrial innovation.
