Nigeria has taken another major step toward agricultural transformation with the commencement of construction on the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Cross River State (southeast of Nigeria). This initiative follows the earlier national launch of the SAPZ program in Kaduna (capital city of Kaduna State, north-western Nigeria), part of a $538 million Phase 1 initiative targeting eight states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Cross River project, situated on 130 hectares in Adiabo (southeastern Nigeria), is strategically positioned to benefit from infrastructure such as the Calabar and Bakassi ports, a 23 kVA power plant at Tinapa, and a 630 kVA facility in Calabar. It also integrates academic and research capabilities through partnerships with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and the University of Calabar.
The SAPZ initiative seeks to industrialize agriculture by transforming rural areas into agro-industrial hubs focused on value addition and processing. This strategy aims to reduce Nigeria’s $4.7 billion food import bill from 2024 while boosting domestic food production. The program will create over 60,000 jobs and increase agricultural productivity by more than 60%. In Cross River State, the SAPZ will prioritize staple and export-oriented crops such as rice, cassava, millet, cocoa, and oil palm, with Governor Bassey Otu highlighting the importance of empowering smallholder farmers and building agricultural clusters as part of the economic strategy.
The SAPZ program receives support from multiple international organizations, including the African Development Bank, which has committed $934 million for SAPZ projects across 11 African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea, Liberia, Madagascar, Togo, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Mali.
Nigeria’s efforts also receive additional support from the Islamic Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Green Climate Fund. Vice President Kashim Shettima stated, “The SAPZ program has been recognized as a national priority for food security in Nigeria, and there is no better time than now for the federal and state governments, development partners, the private sector, and our communities to work hand in hand to ensure the success of the SAPZ project.” Expansion plans are underway to roll out the program to 28 additional Nigerian states as part of a proposed Phase 2, currently in development and seeking funding.
