The Federal Government has announced a commitment of $538.05 million towards the establishment of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) across the country, in a renewed effort to transform Nigeria's food systems and strengthen agricultural productivity.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this on Monday at the Community of Practice Summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) held in Abuja.
Kyari said the investment is part of a broader strategy to make Nigeria's food systems more productive, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable, adding that the government has already launched SAPZ projects in Kaduna, Cross River, and Ogun States, with more expected to follow soon.
According to him, the initiative is projected to attract an additional $1 billion in investments by 2027, creating jobs and expanding the agricultural value chain.
"Alongside other interventions, the Federal Government has provided 2,000 tractors and related implements to boost agricultural production. We have also launched the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones in Kaduna, Cross River, and Ogun States, with others coming on board. Under this project, the country has committed substantial investments of $538.05 million, leveraging the private sector in the establishment of industrial hubs and agricultural transformation centres," Kyari said.
He explained that the SAPZ initiative has already established a reputation for safeguarding crops under custodial management, ensuring that agricultural produce is preserved and processed efficiently for both domestic consumption and export.
The minister also announced the creation of an Agricultural Sector Working Group, comprising research institutions, development partners, the private sector, and civil society stakeholders, to monitor progress and enhance accountability in agricultural development.
Kyari noted that Nigeria's progress in agriculture had been recognised by the African Union, adding that the country had made significant strides in the biennial review of agricultural development over the past decade.
Speaking on the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme, recently presented at the African Food Systems Summit in Dakar, Senegal, Kyari said the project aims to reduce annual post-harvest losses estimated at ₦3.5 trillion, strengthen value chains, and promote food sovereignty.
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He called for stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments, stressing that shared responsibility and synergy are critical for achieving sustainable food security and resilient livelihoods.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Karin Jansen, Head of German Development Cooperation, said the Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies Project, commissioned by the German government, is supporting reforms in nine partner countries across Africa and Asia, as well as at regional and global levels.
She said the project focuses on linking food security, climate action, and biodiversity conservation, ensuring that food systems operate within sustainable planetary boundaries.
Jansen added that Germany, through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), had reaffirmed its cooperation with the African Union on CAADP and the Kampala Agenda as frameworks for driving agricultural transformation.
The Chairperson of the Coalition of NGOs in Agriculture and Sustainable Development, Rosemary Effiong, reaffirmed stakeholders' commitment to work with government and partners to build capacity and promote agroecological practices for sustainable food systems.
She also called for increased budgetary allocation to agriculture, timely releases, and effective utilisation of funds across all levels of government to sustain the gains already recorded.
