The federal government on monday launched the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zones, SAPZ Program in Abuja.
The launch was to formally announce the Nigeria SAPZ to national, and international partners, co-financiers, development partners, the private sector, farmers groups, national networks and diaspora population and other stakeholders.
President Muhammadu Buhari represented by vice president Prof Yemi Osinbajo said that the program is a government enabled and private sector led initiative that will mobilize private sector investment to develop value chains for selected crops, livestock in participating states and give a boost to food production, wealth creation, employment generation, processing and exportation.
He pointed out that the Programme is designed to bring about import substitution in order to reduce food import bills, boost revenue from agriculture exports, create wealth for rural farming communities, create new sustainable jobs for women and young people, stem rural-urban migration, and revive public and private sector funded assets, by improve the business environment and others.
According to him, the first phase of the programme is expected to increase the value of commodities such as rice, cassava, and cocoa which are grown in Cross River state, beef and dairy cattle in the Federal Capital Territory, livestock in Imo state, beef and dairy, tomato, maize, and ginger from Kaduna state, rice, tomatoes, groundnuts, and sesame oil from Kano state, livestock in Kwara state, cassava, rice, poultry, and fisheries in Ogun state, cassava, soybeans, and rice from Oyo State.
He further said that the participating states under Phase 1 include Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Cross Rivers, and Federal Capital Territory while the second phase will bring on board 18 States, which the SAPZ would benefit from technology and innovation, where the Programme is poised to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCTA, which would make Nigeria “the bread basket and agribusiness hub in Africa.”
On his part, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar said that successful implementation would create up to 550,000 additional new jobs in production, processing and other associated activities and contribute up to about $10 million to Nigeria’s economy annually through additional cultivation of up to about 950,000 hectares of land.
The program was organized by the Federal Government with co-financing from the African Development Bank (ADB), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
President of ADB Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the Associate Vice-President and General Counsel (IFAD), Ms Katherine Meighan and the President of IDB Dr. Muhammad Al-Jasser expressed concern and support for the program calling for improved partnership, commitment and sustainbility.
Also present at the event were the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, other government representatives, implementing partners, prospective investors, farmers, agripreneurs, diplomats and others
Responding on behalf of the participating states, the Governor of Cross River State, Prof Benedict Ayade called on the participating states and stakeholders to ensure proper implementation and sustainability of the project.
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