The Federal Government has secured fresh funding commitments from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to roll out the second phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this in a post on his official X handle on Monday, following a bilateral meeting with AfDB President, Dr. Sidi Tah, on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last Friday.
Shettima explained that Phase 2 of the SAPZ programme will scale up climate-resilient infrastructure and extend agro-industrial growth to 24 additional states, expanding beyond the eight states and the Federal Capital Territory covered in the first phase.
He said the programme was central to diversifying Nigeria’s mono-product economy by boosting value-added agricultural exports.
“We urge you to further support us in the Phase 2 Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ). You assisted us with $300 million when you were in Liberia. We want to thank you, but like Oliver Twist, we are asking for more because we are poised to diversify our mono-product economy into agriculture, especially value-added agricultural export,” the Vice President said.
Nigeria, he noted, remains AfDB’s largest shareholder with a portfolio of over $10 billion, justifying the request for increased support.
Launched in 2022, the SAPZ initiative is a flagship programme of the AfDB in collaboration with the Federal Government, state governments, and other development partners. The first phase, supported by a $300 million AfDB facility, was implemented in the FCT and seven states — Cross River, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Ogun, and Oyo.
That phase created agro-industrial hubs to attract private investment in agro-processing, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve market access for smallholder farmers. It also strengthened value chains in key commodities, improved food security, and generated jobs for rural youths and women.
With the second phase set to cover 24 more states, the initiative is expected to deepen Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, promote export diversification, and strengthen the country’s position in regional and global food supply chains.
