The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, says that political will and policy consistency are critical in ensuring the success and sustainability of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) and Africa’s long-delayed agricultural transformation.
Speaking at the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Kaduna state in northern Nigeria on Tuesday, Dr. Akinwumi revealed that the AfDB has committed over $934 million towards the SAPZ programmes across Africa, with an additional $938m mobilised from partners.
“Projects like these cannot thrive in the face of policy uncertainty,” Dr Adesina said.
“The continuity and success of these initiatives depend on governments maintaining a stable policy environment that supports farmers, investors, and stakeholders across the value chain.”
“The agro-industrial transformation, which took 11 years to fully take off, has been designed to address the longstanding challenges of food insecurity and economic disparity. Central to the strategy are Special Agro-Industrial Zones, which promise to integrate smallholder farmers into value chains, stimulate job creation, and modernise Africa’s agricultural systems.”
However, Adesina stressed that achieving these goals requires more than just funding and technology.
“The most innovative solutions mean little without the backbone of consistent policies,” he warned.
He pointed to past projects that faltered due to policy reversals and governance changes, urging African governments to take a long-term view when implementing development programmes.
In his speech at the event, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, said the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) would catalyse economic growth by creating thousands of jobs and empowering the Nigerian youths.
SAPZ is an initiative designed to boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and promote industrialisation in the agricultural sector.
Shettima told dignitaries and stakeholders on Tuesday that SAPZ was a strategic milestone in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s plan to industrialise Nigeria’s agriculture sector and create sustainable jobs across Nigeria.
“The initiative will catalyse economic growth by creating thousands of jobs and empowering Nigerian youths. We are not just breaking ground. We are building the infrastructure to feed our people, empower our youth, and fulfil the economic promise of our nation.
“This is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about people. It is about the resilience of our farmers, the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs, and the commitment of our government to build a future that works for everyone,” he said.
Shettima described the SAPZ as a “presidential priority project” and a direct response to the longstanding challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, including poor infrastructure, limited access to markets, and low value addition.
He noted that while Nigeria could not afford to be chained to outdated systems while the world moves with urgency towards innovation, the SAPZ initiative is a strategy that “lays the foundation for real economic transformation”.
GIK/APA