Nigeria Pushes Agro-Industrial Transformation as SAPZ Programme Gains Momentum
Nigeria Pushes Agro-Industrial Transformation as SAPZ Programme Gains Momentum
Nigeria Pushes Agro-Industrial Transformation as SAPZ Programme Gains Momentum
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating agricultural transformation through the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, describing it as a key model for agro-industrialisation, food system reform, and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, made this known during a meeting of the Federal Inter-Agency Technical Committee on SAPZ held in Abuja on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
He said the programme is designed to reposition agriculture from subsistence and raw commodity exportation to value-added industrial production, with the aim of boosting food security, job creation, and rural development.
According to him, the SAPZ initiative will establish integrated agro-industrial hubs equipped with essential infrastructure such as roads, power supply, water systems, storage facilities, logistics networks, and processing centres located close to production areas.
Dr. Ogunbiyi explained that the programme is expected to significantly reduce post-harvest losses, attract private investment, improve productivity, and create sustainable employment opportunities for youths and women across participating states.
He described SAPZ as one of the Federal Government’s flagship development initiatives, jointly financed by development partners including the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Islamic Development Bank, in collaboration with state governments and private sector stakeholders.
He further noted that the programme aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of food security, economic diversification, import substitution, and rural industrialisation.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized the need for stronger inter-agency coordination and technical collaboration among relevant ministries, departments, agencies, and development partners to ensure effective implementation.
He charged the technical committee with providing strategic guidance, strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems, aligning sector policies, and identifying operational bottlenecks affecting programme delivery.
In her remarks, the Director of Federal Department of Development Partners Projects, Dr. Mrs. Iluromi Adebola, said SAPZ remains a strategic intervention for unlocking agricultural value chains and boosting private sector participation in agro-processing and rural development.
Also speaking, National Programme Coordinator Dr. Kabir Yusuf said the initiative is aimed at attracting investment into agro-processing, increasing export earnings, reducing food imports, and expanding agriculture’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to sustaining partnerships with development institutions and ensuring that SAPZ delivers long-term economic transformation across the country.
Nigeria Pushes Agro-Industrial Transformation as SAPZ Programme Gains Momentum
