Vice-President Kashim Shettima has flagged off the construction of a special agro-industrial processing zone (SAPZ) in Kaduna state.
According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, senior special assistant to the president on media and communications, Shettima flagged off the construction of Phase 1 of the SAPZ at a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday.
Addressing stakeholders at the vast expanse of land designated for the facility in Daki-Takwas, along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, Chikun local government area of Kaduna, Shettima said the special agro-industrial processing zone (SAPZ) will transform the Nigerian economy.
He 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.
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The vice-president declared the programme a strategic milestone in President Bola Tinubu’s plan to industrialise Nigeria’s agriculture sector and create sustainable jobs across the country.
SAPZ is part of a larger national programme, with Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) among states in the first phase of the project.
Shettima expressed confidence that the initiative would catalyse economic growth by creating thousands of jobs and empowering Nigerian youths.
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“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,” he said.
“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.”
Shettima noted that while the nation cannot afford to be chained to outdated systems as the world moves with urgency towards innovation, the SAPZ initiative is a strategy that lays the foundation for “real economic transformation”.
SHETTIMA LAUDS KADUNA GOVERNMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP
The vice-president commended the Kaduna state government for its leadership in agriculture, describing the state as a key driver of Nigeria’s agro-industrial future due to its abundant arable land and historical role in agricultural production.
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“Kaduna is not a stranger to agricultural leadership. What we are starting here today will become a model for other states to follow,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of involving young Nigerians in the agricultural revolution, noting that the SAPZ would generate thousands of jobs and equip the youth with the skills to become active players in the economy.
“The youth of Nigeria must not be spectators. They must be stakeholders and shapers of their own futures,” he added.
On his part, Uba Sani, Kaduna state governor, described the processing zone as a strategic investment designed to accelerate industrial development across Nigeria.
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“The SAPZ is a huge investment designed to position Kaduna as a major player in Nigeria’s industrial development,” Sani said.
“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic development.”
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KADUNA EARMARKS N74.2BN FOR AGRICULTURE IN 2025 BUDGET
The governor said the current budget for agriculture in 2025 is N74.2 billion, up from N23.4 billion in 2024.
Sani emphasised agriculture’s central role in Kaduna’s economy, saying it contributes 42 percent to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 60 percent of the state workforce.
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“In the 2023 budget we inherited, agriculture received just N1.4 billion. However, in 2024, we increased it to N23.4 billion, and in 2025, we have approved N74.2 billion,” he said.
Earlier, Akinwumi Adesina, African Development Bank (AfDB) president, said Kaduna has led the way as the first to launch the SAPZ in Nigeria.
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At the ceremony, Adesina lauded Kaduna’s commitment to the actualisation of SAPZ, highlighting the significance of agricultural industrialisation in the state’s economic growth.
“Your passion for agriculture is impressive, and agricultural industrialisation remains the fastest way to develop the vast areas of Kaduna,” he said.
“It has taken us eleven years to get here, and I am delighted that we are finally here.”
Adesina noted that the AfDB has committed over $934 million towards the SAPZ programme across Africa, with an additional $938 million mobilised from partners.
He said the initiative is currently being implemented in 27 sites across 11 countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Madagascar.
Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, also described the initiative as a turning point in Nigeria’s agricultural history.
“This programme will be a game changer. It is designed to attract private sector investment in agro-industrial processing, drive value addition, and enhance rural development,” Kyari said.
“It will strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem to respond favourably to the challenges of our time.”
The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Sunday said with an unprecedented investment of $538 million, SAPZ Phase 1 stands as AfDB’s largest programme in any African country to date.
A similar groundbreaking ceremony will be held in Cross River on Thursday, according to the AfDB, following the one already held in Kaduna.
