AfDB Expands Agro-Industrial Initiative Across 21 New Nigerian States”
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched the second phase of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme in Nigeria, onboarding 21 additional states to accelerate food security and rural economic growth. Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State disclosed the development following the 146th National Economic Council meeting held at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Uzodinma noted that the first phase of the programme—underway in Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory—is nearing completion. “Impressed by the programme,” he said, “the Council urged all states to engage with it, as it promises to be transformative for food security and economic development.”
Earlier this year, Senior Special Adviser on Industrialisation to the AfDB President, Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, confirmed that the bank’s first tranche of disbursements—amounting to $540 million—would soon be released to pilot states to develop SAPZs. The initiative follows AfDB President Dr Akinwumi Adesina’s commitment to support Nigeria’s new administration and its people-first economic policies, made at the Global Financing Pact summit in Paris.
Oyelaran-Oyeyinka explained that the SAPZ project is designed to turn Nigeria’s rural landscapes into hubs of productivity and opportunity. “The project is government-enabled but private-sector driven,” he said, emphasising its role in fostering sustainable and inclusive agro-industrial development. He added that states advancing faster in project documentation and partnerships would be prioritised, with funding eligibility based on feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, and commitment to co-financing.
Phase two of the SAPZ initiative is expected to deliver vital agricultural infrastructure, including Agro-Industrial Processing Hubs, Agricultural Transformation Centers, and enhanced farm-to-market road networks. Alongside these, the programme aims to improve irrigation, provide certified agricultural inputs, offer technical support, and develop agro-industrial skills among farmers and small businesses.
The Council also urged state governments to engage the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to support farm machinery maintenance and infrastructure repairs. NASENI, in a presentation to the Council, outlined its plans to assist with land reclamation, solar-powered rural electrification, and tractor repair and manufacturing. The agency’s involvement is set to boost the availability of farm equipment, especially solar-powered tractors, a critical need in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Uzodinma expressed optimism about the collaboration, adding that most state governments had pledged to work closely with NASENI to ensure the agency’s initiatives are successfully implemented. He praised the broad momentum behind the SAPZ initiative, suggesting it has the potential to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and help secure food security for millions.
