The Kano State Government has described Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) project as “well-conceived and carefully structured initiative.
Specifically, the Kano State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud, commended the programme while speaking at the SAPZ Programme’s 1st Joint FGN/IFAD Supervision Mission wrap-up event in Abuja,
He highlighted its potential to drive rural inclusion by involving local farmers in Nigeria’s economic growth, with particular focus on supporting smallholders and marginalized groups.
“In Kano alone, SAPZ has set a target to impact an additional 14,000 farmers by September 2025,” Dr. Mahmoud noted.
“Our state has a strong network of smallholder farmers, and we are committed to leveraging SAPZ resources to meet these targets quickly.”
He emphasized the need for active collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the success of SAPZ, urging both national and international partners to maintain technical and financial support as implementation proceeds.
Dr. Mahmoud also stressed accountability and the efficient use of funds as SAPZ continues its rollout. “This programme is an intergenerational investment that holds vast potential for Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. We must manage it with a focus on quality, transparency, and long-term impact,” he concluded.
With national and international backing, SAPZ is poised to reshape Nigeria’s agricultural sector, bringing sustainable development, economic resilience, and food security for the country’s future generations.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and private investors launched the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Programme in Nigeria
This transformative initiative, implemented across seven states—Kano, Imo, Kaduna, Cross River, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun—and the Federal Capital Territory,in its first phase, is designed to accelerate Nigeria’s agro-industrialization, strengthen food security, and generate employment.
SAPZ aims to attract private investment by creating dedicated agricultural zones that promote sustainable growth in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The programme seeks to empower rural communities, particularly smallholder farmers, women, and foster rural development as a pathway to reducing poverty nationwide.