Nigeria Invests $538M in Agro Zones to Drive Food Security and Job Growth

Nigeria commits $538m on SAPZ program – Shettima — Daily Nigerian

Nigeria has allocated $538 million to launch the first phase of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), a national initiative designed to modernize agriculture, reduce food waste, and drive rural economic growth. Vice-President Kashim Shettima announced the investment during his address at the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday, emphasizing the program’s role in addressing food insecurity and advancing industrialization.

The SAPZ project, supported by multilateral partners including the African Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and Islamic Development Bank, aims to streamline farming, processing, and distribution systems. Shettima disclosed that the initiative has already generated 785,000 jobs in priority regions and is expected to draw $1 billion in total investments by 2027. A key focus, he noted, is slashing post-harvest losses by 80%—a critical step for a nation where an estimated 40% of agricultural produce spoils before reaching markets.

Highlighting Africa’s growing youth population, the vice-president stressed the urgency of mobilizing younger generations to transform the continent’s agricultural sector. “No stone should be left unturned in leveraging this demographic dividend,” he said, linking youth engagement to long-term food system resilience.

The announcement aligns with broader federal efforts to combat hunger under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Over 500,000 hectares of idle farmland have been revitalized, with expanded seed distribution networks and strategic grain reserves established to stabilize food supplies. Shettima underscored the need for enhanced security in rural regions to protect farmers and sustain production, citing ongoing reforms to address risks such as land disputes and communal violence.

Internationally, Nigeria is seeking collaboration to tackle environmental challenges worsening food insecurity. Shettima urged support for restoring the shrinking Lake Chad Basin, a vital water source for 40 million people, and called for climate-resilient irrigation systems alongside a comprehensive national farm database. Additional measures include preemptive responses to extreme weather, emergency school feeding programs in conflict zones, and community-driven projects to strengthen stability.

“Food security is the trust anchor of peace,” Shettima concluded, framing agricultural investment as both an economic imperative and a tool for conflict prevention. The SAPZ initiative reflects Nigeria’s push to balance immediate crises with systemic reforms, though global partnerships and climate adaptation remain pivotal to its success.

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