The Federal Government and the African Development Bank, AfDB, are set to begin the implementation of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, SAPZ, projects in Kaduna and Calabar to enhance food security in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the AfDB, the groundbreaking ceremony for the $538 million Phase 1 of the SAPZ Programme will take place in Kaduna on Tuesday.

The event will be attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani.

Following the Kaduna launch, Dr. Adesina will travel to Cross River State, where the Federal Government and Governor Bassey Otu will lead another launch event in Calabar.

The SAPZ Phase 1 programme spans eight locations: Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory.

Inaugurated in 2022, the initiative is backed by $210 million from the AfDB, with additional funding from the Islamic Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms.

READ ALSO: FG promotes traceability for agric exports

The programme is designed to increase food production, cut down on food imports, generate jobs, and transform rural areas into vibrant economic hubs.

In 2023 alone, Nigeria reportedly spent $4.7 billion on food imports, a trend the SAPZ initiative aims to reverse.

The SAPZ is expected to boost agricultural productivity by over 60%, reduce post-harvest losses, and strengthen the value chain from farm to market.

Kaduna’s agro-industrial hub will focus on crops such as maize, soybeans, ginger, and tomatoes, while Cross River will prioritise cocoa, cassava, and rice.

Both hubs will include transformation centres, aggregation facilities, and be strategically located near major academic institutions—Ahmadu Bello University in Kaduna and the University of Calabar—to leverage research and skilled labour.

Each participating state is projected to create more than 60,000 jobs, making the programme a critical component of Nigeria’s push for economic diversification and food self-sufficiency.

Several federal and state officials, as well as development partners, are expected to attend the launch ceremonies.

NAN