The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced a $2.2 billion funding package to support the second phase of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), a bold initiative aimed at transforming the country’s agriculture through industrialisation and value chain development.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, AfDB’s outgoing president, made this known while speaking at the 2025 Standard Chartered Bank Africa Summit in Lagos. He explained that the funding would be channelled toward 24 states, expanding on the initial phase that had already been rolled out in eight states including Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Imo, and the FCT.
The SAPZ programme focuses on boosting food production, reducing waste, and creating sustainable jobs in farming communities by providing the infrastructure that agro-industries need to thrive—such as power, roads, and logistics hubs. These zones are expected to attract serious investments in food processing, packaging, storage, and export operations.
So far, the AfDB has committed over $934 million to the project and secured another $938 million in co-financing from partners including the Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, JICA, and the West African Development Bank. Dr. Adesina also highlighted that the broader goal is to help Nigeria and other African countries move from exporting raw produce to adding value through local processing—thus creating jobs and boosting revenues.
Beyond Nigeria, similar agro-industrial zones are being developed in 27 locations across 11 African countries. With over $3 billion already pledged by development partners, the SAPZ initiative is quickly becoming a cornerstone in Africa’s quest for food security, rural transformation, and export-driven growth.
