By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
10- OCT- 2025

The Federal Government has officially inaugurated the Federal Inter-Agency Technical Committee for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative — a strategic programme aimed at revolutionising Nigeria’s agricultural and rural economies.

The inauguration ceremony, which took place on Friday in Abuja, marked a renewed commitment by the government to promote agro-industrialisation, strengthen food security, generate employment, and attract sustainable private sector investments into rural communities.

Speaking during the event, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, described the committee as the “engine room” for the effective implementation of the SAPZ programme. He noted that the initiative was conceived to unlock the country’s agricultural potential through an integrated cluster development model that connects farmers, processors, markets, and industries.

Dr. Ogunbiyi explained that the committee’s responsibilities include offering technical direction for the programme’s implementation, ensuring inter-agency synergy, facilitating stakeholder collaboration, identifying operational gaps, and providing strategic recommendations to enhance project outcomes.

He further assured that the ministry would continue to provide leadership and an enabling policy environment to guarantee the success of the SAPZ scheme, stressing that, “Together, we can make the SAPZ programme a benchmark for agricultural transformation and sustainable national development.”

Also speaking, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, National Project Coordinator of SAPZ, highlighted the programme’s achievements and ongoing efforts to diversify the economy through agriculture while reducing the nation’s food import dependence. He revealed that the first phase of the SAPZ implementation covers Kano, Imo, Kaduna, Cross River, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun States, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to him, the SAPZ project serves as a multi-sectoral platform designed to attract private capital into value-added agro-processing ventures that will enhance food production, create jobs, improve exports, reduce poverty, and expand agriculture’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP.

In her remarks, Mrs. Iluromi Olubunmi, Director of the Federal Department of Development Partnership Projects, described the inauguration as a major milestone in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural industrialisation agenda.

She said, “The SAPZ initiative is strategically positioned to unleash the full potential of Nigeria’s agricultural value chains. By aligning policies, promoting inter-agency cooperation, and attracting private investments, this programme will drive job creation, food security, and rural prosperity across the nation.”

The formation of the committee represents a decisive step by the Federal Government toward transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and ensuring that the sector becomes a robust driver of inclusive economic growth.