Governors seek to replicate Benin’s agro-industrial model after GDIZ tour

Six state governors have pledged to replicate key elements of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in the Republic of Benin as Nigeria pushes ahead with plans to establish Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) aimed at boosting manufacturing, adding value to agricultural produce and creating jobs.

The governors made the commitment after accompanying Vice President Kashim Shettima on an inspection of the integrated industrial zone near Cotonou, where commodities including cotton, cashew nuts and soybeans are processed into finished and semi-finished products.

The delegation comprised Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Dikko Umar Radda (Katsina) and Umar Namadi (Jigawa).

The governors said the Benin model demonstrated how government policy, infrastructure and private sector investment could transform agricultural value chains by linking farmers with processors, reducing the export of raw commodities and creating employment.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the visit as an opportunity for Nigerian states to learn from successful African industrialisation models.

“Nigeria is on the verge of developing industrial processing zones across the federation. We previously visited Ethiopia to study what they had done, and we are now in Benin Republic to learn from both the challenges and the successes of this industrial zone,” he said.

He added that the participating states were working with the Federal Government and development partners, including the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, to provide infrastructure for the processing zones.

Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi said the visit had provided practical lessons that would strengthen his state’s efforts to add value to agricultural production.

“What we have seen here is very encouraging, both for us as a country and as a state. We have learnt many things that will help us industrialise Jigawa and create sustainable jobs for our young people,” he said.