The Federal Government and the African Development Bank have unveiled the design, construction, and operation plan for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones initiative in Calabar, Cross River State.
The SAPZ programme, backed by significant investment, is expected to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, create employment, and ensure food security.
Officials at the event reiterated their commitment to ensuring the project’s success across various states.
Speaking on Thursday at the groundbreaking of SAPZ, held on site of SAPZ, Tinapa road, Adiabo, Cross River State, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, emphasised the significance of the SAPZ initiative, describing it as a landmark moment in Nigeria’s agricultural development.
“What is more exciting than the promise of a vibrant agricultural value chain is the journey towards its fulfillment.
“This gathering is one for the history books. There is no intervention more practical in realising our dream of a self-sufficient nation than maximising the potential of agriculture.
“Today, at the groundbreaking ceremony of this Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, I am more than honoured to share in this collective ambition for our nation,” he added.
Shettima further noted that the SAPZ project was already making strides, citing its recent launch in Kaduna State.
“We gather in Calabar, Cross River State, today to breathe life into the construction of this critical special agro-industrial zone.
“This comes just three days after the groundbreaking in Kaduna State, proving that this is a promise well kept by both the federal and state governments.
“This is not merely the commencement of a flagship project but a celebration of a vision—one of agro-industrial growth and sustainable development for our country. This noble vision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.
President, AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, described SAPZ as a transformative project for Nigeria’s agricultural and industrial sectors.
Adesina asserted that the SAPZ initiative would significantly reduce food imports, conserve foreign exchange, expand food production, and strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.
He emphasised the transformative impact of SAPZs on rural economies and job creation.
“The special agro-industrial processing zones will reduce food imports, conserve foreign exchange, expand production and processing of food and agricultural commodities, strengthen the Naira, and attract significant private investment in agricultural value chains.
“The SAPZ will also revive and transform rural economies and create millions of jobs. So today, the gospel of good news of the special agro-industrial processing zones has reached Cross River State,” he said.
Adesina, a former Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria, recalled his efforts in initiating stable crop processing zones years ago but lamented that institutional inertia hindered their launch.
“Even then, we had developed 14 stable crop processing zones for 14 states, but we were not able to launch them due to lack of collaboration between ministries.
“That loss continued for 13 years, denying Nigeria the platform needed to become a major player in value addition for its agricultural sector,” he said.
Adesina stressed the importance of industrialising Nigeria’s agricultural sector to create wealth for farmers and ensure food security.
He maintained that the SAPZ programme was being implemented with support from the AfDB, the Islamic Development Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Adesina announced that the AfDB and its partners have mobilized $934 million in funding, with co-financing of $938 million from other partners, to support SAPZs in 11 countries, including Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Ethiopia.
He also outlined a financing package of $510 million for SAPZ projects in eight Nigerian states—Cross River, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, and Imo—as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
“We expect the second phase of SAPZ development to mobilize $2.2 billion to cover 28 states across Nigeria,” Adesina said, highlighting the involvement of international financial institutions such as the African Export-Import Bank and the U.S. Development Corporation.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, in his remarks, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to leveraging its vast agricultural potential.
He said the state’s suitability for SAPZs due to its export processing zone, port facilities, and rich agricultural resources.
“Cross River State has a significant role in the agricultural transformation of Nigeria because of its extensive production of cocoa, palm oil, plantain, rice, and bananas.
“Its Obudu Ranch alone can turn the state into a huge livestock producer,” he said.
He also noted that infrastructure projects such as the proposed Bakassi Deep Sea Port, the Calabar-Itu rail line, and the Obudu Cargo Airport would facilitate the transportation of processed agricultural goods to both local and international markets.
Similarly, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, acknowledged the project’s significance in driving industrialisation.
“The SAPZs are the instruments through which we can achieve industrial growth. Countries that have industrialized started with agricultural development before transitioning into industrial prosperity,” Enoh noted.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to move beyond exporting raw agricultural products to processing them for export, pointing out that special economic zones like SAPZ would facilitate this transition.
