The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said the private sector is critical to the implementation of Nigeria Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ).
SAPZ, which will facilitate establishment of eight agro-industrial processing hubs, 15 agricultural transformation centres, 2,300 ha of irrigated lands and access roads, has a target of $538 million.
The project, co-financed by AfDB, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Islamic Development Bank, would supply agricultural input and provide extension services; training and skill development for farmers and SMEs.
Speaking at SAPZ’s Strategic Partners and Investors Meeting in Abuja, Director-General of AfDB Nigeria, Mr. Lamin Barrow, said the programme is the largest among others in 18 African countries.
He said Phase I would be in seven states of Cross River, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Ogun and Oyo and Federal Capital Territory, noting that the five-year programme would support policy and institutional development for SAPZs.
He said: “Implementation of SAPZs through public-private partnership framework is anchored on division of labour among the actors.
“The public sector is to invest in basic infrastructure, including Aggregation Centres and Agricultural Transformation Centres to aggregate and process strategic crops and livestock products… “
IFAD’s Associate Vice President, Ms. Katherine Meighan, said Nigeria, with over 88 per cent arable land, is positioned as a powerhouse for agro-industrialisation in Africa.
“Together, we will ensure food security in Nigeria and support Nigeria as the powerhouse for agro-industrialisation in Africa,” she said.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, said preparation to scale up to 18 states in the second phase is in the pipeline.
He said the programme is a dedicated agro-processing area in major food clusters with modern infrastructure to attract private sector investments.