The African Development Bank (AfDB), in collaboration with the federal government and other partners, has flagged off a special agro-industrial processing zone (SAPZ) project in Ijaiye, Akinyele local government area (LGA), Oyo.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place in the state over the weekend.
In a post on X, the AfDB said the project is the first in the south-west, aimed at transforming agriculture and driving economic growth in the region.
“Today, @NigeriaGov, @AfDB_Group and partners broke ground on the @oyostategovt #SAPZNigeria initiative – a bold step to transform agriculture. Leaders outlined a shared vision to drive jobs, food security, and rural prosperity,” the post reads.
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, said the project will integrate processing centres, warehouses, and livestock support hubs among other facilities.
“This is the first SAPZ in Southwest Nigeria at Eruwa-Ijaiye. It will integrate processing centers, warehouses, and livestock support hubs, with ICT and health facilities in phase one, and room to expand as demand grows,” Makinde said.
Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, said the initiative is a bold declaration that the country can use agriculture to uplift its population.
“This initiative isn’t just an infrastructure project, but a bold declaration that Nigeria can transform agriculture into an upliftment of our population,” Kyari said.
“We recognize the African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and international partners.”
On his part, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the AfDB, said the initiative was a vision he had about 15 years ago as minister of agriculture to create SAPZs across the country.
“Our goal is very clear. It’s to reduce massive post-harvest losses, develop logistics and improve linkages between prime production, agro-processing and value addition, transform rural economies, and, of course, to create jobs,” the AfDB president said.
“Now, when you think about jobs, we also have to think about revenue.”
Adesina’s 10-year tenure as president of the bank will come to an end in September, to be succeeded by Sidi Ould Tah, the newly elected president of the AfDB.
Also speaking, Abdul Kamara, AfDB’s director-general for Nigeria, said following the directive from the AfDB president to unlock all obstacles in agro-industrial processing, SAPZ stands as a vital initiative, just as they successfully transformed Ethiopia into a wheat-exporting nation.
In July, vice-president Kashim Shettima said Nigeria has committed $538.05 million to the first phase of the SAPZ, creating over 785,000 jobs.
