AfDB reaffirms $2.2bn support as VP Shettima flags off agro-industrial hub in Cross River
By Kunle Sanni
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday commissioned the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Calabar, Cross River State, marking a significant step in the federal government’s efforts to industrialise Nigeria’s agricultural sector and boost rural economies.
The event, which came just two days after a similar launch in Kaduna State, underscores the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a key driver of economic diversification, job creation, and food security.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Adiabo, along Tinapa Road, Vice President Shettima described the SAPZ initiative as “a game changer” that aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He said the facility would address longstanding challenges faced by farmers, including inadequate infrastructure, limited market access, and post-harvest losses.
“There is no intervention more practical in our dream of a nation where the potential of agriculture is maximised than what has brought us together today,” Shettima said. “This isn’t just a project—it’s a bold vision to transform Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.”
The SAPZs are being developed with support from global development partners, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), alongside private sector contributions. The African Development Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to mobilising $2.2 billion for the next phase of the project across 28 states.
AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, in a statement, said the bank had already secured over $934 million for the first phase of the programme across eight states—Cross River, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, and Imo—as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
He noted that Cross River’s agricultural potential—especially in cocoa, cassava, rice, and livestock—makes it a prime location for the SAPZ. He added that the state’s export infrastructure, including its seaport and processing zones, will help connect processed agricultural goods to markets across Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
Vice President Shettima also disclosed plans to institutionalise the SAPZ initiative as a national agency to coordinate agricultural industrialisation efforts across all 36 states.
