Following sustained high food inflation in Nigeria, the Federal Government in collaboration with the African Development Bank, (AfDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Islamic Development Bank and other stakeholders have moved to accelerate the implementation of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones 1 (SAPZ 1) Project.
The SAPZ programme supports Nigeria’s inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial development. It promotes environmental sustainability by adopting climate smart practices, conserving biodiversity, and managing natural resources responsibly.
The first phase is scheduled to be implemented over five years, from 2022 to 2026.
According to the report by Vanguard newspaper on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security organized a two-day ‘Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, SAPZ, States Steering and Technical Committee workshop and validation of the SAPZ Programme Operational Guidelines to accelerate the implementation of the SAPZ 1 Project.
Speaking at the programme in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, commended the funding partners, AfDB, IFAD, Islamic development Bank for believing in the project despite some challenges, which he noted could be transformed into opportunities.
He, however, said that there were some challenges responsible for the slow implementation of the Programme in the selected eight States, namely, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Imo, Cross River, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT)
The minister said that the forum would ensure the acceleration of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation through SAPZ, with the aim to revitalise Nigeria’s agricultural sector, create thousands of jobs, and promote sustainable economic growth through private sector investments.
GIK/APA