Nigeria’s Ambitious Plan to Boost Agricultural Growth and Job Creation
The Nigerian government has unveiled a ambitious plan to invest $1 billion in agricultural processing and create 500,000 jobs by 2027 through the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme. The initiative, which kicked off in seven states, aims to localise development and enhance agricultural practices.
The Programme, which is being implemented in partnership with several development financing institutions, including the African Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and Islamic Development Bank, targets $1 billion in new investment from private sector companies and the creation of 500,000 jobs, disaggregated by direct and indirect age group and gender.
According to Dr. Kabir Yusuf, National Programme Coordinator for SAPZ, the Federal Government plans to construct and rehabilitate 190 feeder roads at farm levels, reducing post-harvest losses within the catchment areas. Additionally, 100,000 farmers will be trained and empowered in climate-smart agriculture by 2027.
The Programme’s first phase, SAPZ-1, will focus on constructing and rehabilitating feeder roads, training and empowering farmers, and promoting private sector investment in agricultural processing. The total cost of the Programme is estimated to be $538.05 million, net of taxes.
Prof. Banji Oyelaran, Senior Special Advisor to the President of the African Development Bank on industrialisation, highlighted the importance of knowledge dissemination among farmers, stating, “Knowledge is crucial. If farmers don’t know the right planting times or techniques, they will struggle.” He also emphasized the need for stakeholder adherence to project guidelines and set a compliance deadline of December 20.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture in Kano State, Sadi Ibrahim, expressed commitment to mobilising resources effectively to meet project targets, while Oyo State Executive Adviser on Agribusiness, Adebowale Akande, highlighted the state’s focus on agricultural industrialisation. Kaduna State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, stressed the initiative’s role in adding value to agricultural exports.
The SAPZ Programme aims to create industrial hubs for processing agro-produce, absorbing output from smallholder farmers, and promoting private sector investment in agricultural processing. With its ambitious plans, the Nigerian government is confident that the Programme will lead to substantial economic growth and job creation, transforming the country’s agricultural landscape.
