The Federal Government has officially launched the construction of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Calabar, Cross River State, as part of its ambitious initiative to revolutionise Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and stimulate inclusive growth across the federation.
This marks the second groundbreaking of such a facility within a span of just three days, following the earlier launch in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Tuesday by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Reaffirming its unwavering support for the SAPZ project, the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced plans to mobilise an additional $2.2 billion to fund the next phase of the programme, which is expected to cover 28 states. The Bank, alongside key partners such as the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is driving this transformative agenda to strengthen agro-industrial capacity in Nigeria.
Speaking during the ceremony in Calabar on Thursday, Vice President Shettima described the SAPZ initiative as a defining moment in Nigeria’s pursuit of agricultural revitalisation and economic diversification. He emphasised that the project resonates strongly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of food security, job creation, and rural development.
“This is not just another intervention—it is a practical step toward unleashing the full potential of Nigerian agriculture,” Shettima said. “We are confronting decades of neglect that have left our farmers struggling with poor infrastructure, limited financing, and an absence of processing capacity. This zone is designed to address all of that, by providing an integrated ecosystem for agro-processing, innovation, and market access.”
The Calabar SAPZ, according to the Vice President, is set to become a hub for agricultural processing and storage, serving smallholder farmers and agripreneurs alike. It will offer critical infrastructure to help scale agricultural operations while opening access to both domestic and international markets.
“This is where farmers will meet investors, where innovation meets opportunity, and where our youth will discover meaningful careers in agriculture,” Shettima stated, adding that the Tinubu administration has classified SAPZs as a strategic pillar of its food security agenda and is working to institutionalise the initiative as a government agency to ensure nationwide implementation across all 36 states.
Shettima also paid tribute to international partners backing the project, with particular appreciation extended to the AfDB, Islamic Development Bank, and IFAD for their faith in Nigeria’s agricultural roadmap. He lauded Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, for his dedication to the project, describing the governor as “a trusted partner in national development.”
Governor Otu, in his remarks, noted that the SAPZ project aligns with his administration’s broader vision to shift Cross River State from a resource-dependent economy to one driven by renewable agricultural wealth. He highlighted the creation of smallholder farmer clusters across the state, cultivating crops like rice, cassava, millet, and cocoa, as a foundation for the coming agro-industrial revolution.
“This marks a turning point in our efforts to harness the full potential of agriculture to boost exports, ensure food security, and improve our state’s GDP,” the governor said. “We are committed to leveraging this opportunity to position Cross River as a major player in Nigeria’s agro-economy.”
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve to drive the SAPZ programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that it represents a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s agricultural production and investment framework. He thanked Vice President Shettima for his firm leadership and the Cross River Governor for ensuring the state remained in the vanguard of agricultural transformation.
President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, also addressed the gathering, reaffirming the Bank’s commitment to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation. Adesina disclosed that the first phase of the SAPZ programme, which spans eight states—Cross River, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Imo—and the FCT, has already secured $934 million from the AfDB and $938 million in co-financing from its development partners.
“Cross River is a natural choice for this project. With its production strengths in cocoa, rice, cassava, and banana, and with infrastructure like the Obudu Cattle Ranch and export-oriented facilities, it is well-positioned to become a leading agricultural hub,” Adesina said. “The Calabar SAPZ’s proximity to the seaport also offers a strategic export advantage for processed agricultural goods to regional markets, including Cameroon and other neighbouring nations.”
Dr. Adesina further revealed that for the second phase of the programme, AfDB and its partners plan to mobilise $2.2 billion to scale up the initiative across 28 Nigerian states, reinforcing Nigeria’s transition from subsistence agriculture to agribusiness-driven prosperity.
As the Federal Government ramps up efforts to diversify the economy and lift millions out of poverty, the SAPZ project is shaping up to be a flagship initiative, aimed at placing agriculture at the centre of Nigeria’s industrial growth and global competitiveness.
