Cynthia Ezegwu
The Federal Government has committed $538.05 million to establish Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) across the country as part of ongoing efforts to transform Nigeria’s food systems and boost agricultural productivity.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this on Monday at the Community of Practice Summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in Abuja.
Kyari said the initiative, which leverages private sector participation, aims to make Nigeria’s food systems more productive, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. He added that SAPZ projects had already been launched in Kaduna, Cross River, and Ogun States, with more to follow.
“The Federal Government has made substantial investments of $538.05 million, leveraging private sector involvement in establishing industrial hubs and agricultural transformation centres,” the minister said. “The zones are projected to stimulate a total of $1 billion in investments by 2027.”
He noted that the government had provided 2,000 tractors and other implements to support farmers and enhance national food production.
Kyari further revealed that Nigeria’s progress in agriculture had been recognised by the African Union, noting that the country had made significant improvements in the biennial review of agricultural development.
He also highlighted the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme, which aims to reduce post-harvest losses estimated at N3.5 trillion annually, strengthen value chains, and ensure national food sovereignty.
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Kyari called for stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments, stressing that synergy and shared responsibility were essential for achieving sustainable food security.
In her remarks, the Head of German Development Cooperation, Dr. Karin Jansen, said Germany’s global project on Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies supported agricultural reforms in nine partner countries across Africa and Asia.
She said the project linked food security, climate action, and biodiversity conservation, ensuring that food systems remained sustainable.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Coalition of NGOs in Agriculture and Sustainable Development, Rosemary Effiong, reaffirmed stakeholders’ commitment to partnering with the government to promote agroecological practices and advocate for increased agricultural funding.