The federal government has commenced construction of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Calabar, Cross River State, as part of a nationwide drive to transform the agricultural sector.
This is the second of such a facility initiated within 72 hours after Vice President Kashim Shettima had on Tuesday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Kaduna State SAPZ in the Chikun local government area of the state.
Already, the AfDB_Group has reaffirmed its commitment to mobilising an additional $2.2 billion to execute the second phase of the SAPZ project across 28 states in Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday when he performed the groundbreaking ceremony of SAPZ in Calabar, the Shettima described the project as “a game changer” that aimed at diversifying the nation’s economy, addressing food security, tackling rural unemployment, among others.
His words: “There is no intervention more practical in our dream of a nation where the potential of agriculture is maximised than what’s brought us together today.
“This isn’t just a project—it’s a bold vision to transform Nigeria’s agricultural value chain,” VP Shettima said.
“The SAPZ initiative, supported with counterpart funding from development partners and the private sector, is designed to address challenges that have long hindered the growth of Nigeria’s agricultural economy, including inadequate processing infrastructure, limited access to markets, and rural unemployment.
“For far too long, our farmers have contended with poor infrastructure, lack of access to finance, and inadequate processing facilities.
“This zone is designed to confront those challenges head-on by creating an ecosystem where innovation, investment, and collaboration thrive,” he noted.
In his remark, President of AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, reiterated the bank’s pledge to mobilise $2.2 billion to execute the SAPZ project in 28 states across Nigeria.
Adesina observed that Cross River State has a significant role to play in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation because of the vast production of cocoa, cassava, rice and banana in the state, saying Obudu Cattle Ranch alone can turn the state into a huge livestock producer.
He added: “The African Development Bank, as you know, is spearheading this together with our partners, which include the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and we have put together $934 million from the African Development Bank, with core financing of $938 million from these partners.
“The first phase of SAPZ in Nigeria will be in eight states of Cross River, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We have put together a financing package of $510 million to make this work. We expect, in the second phase of this, to mobilise $2.2 billion to be able to work for 28 states across the federation with several partners. “
