Nigeria has inaugurated the Federal Inter-Agency Technical Committee for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme to enhance agro-industrialisation, innovation, inclusive prosperity, and attract private sector investment, as well as revolutionise the agricultural ecosystem.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Abuja Nigeria’s capital, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said the committee would guide the implementation of the SAPZ programme, ensure coordination between agencies, and manage information sharing among stakeholders.
Dr Ogunbiyi stated that the establishment of the Technical Committee marks an important milestone in the coordinated implementation and execution of the SAPZ Programme.
He revealed that the programme is a strategic approach to unlocking Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential through cluster-based development and integrated infrastructure that links farmers to processors, markets, and industries.
The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to provide an enabling environment, leadership, and support to ensure that the programme achieves its mandate.
He mentioned that the Terms of Reference of the Technical Committee include: providing technical guidance on the implementation strategies of the programme; identifying and addressing technical gaps and recommending appropriate solutions; ensuring alignment of sectoral policies and programmes with SAPZ objectives; and supporting the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting framework to ensure accountability and impact, among others.
Dr Ogunbiyi appealed to the committee to “embrace this platform with dedication, collaboration, and a shared sense of responsibility to deliver meaningful results for our nation. Together, we can make the SAPZ Programme a model for agricultural transformation and sustainable economic development in Nigeria.”
In her welcome address, the Director, Federal Department of Development Partnership Projects, Mrs Iluromi Olubunmi, stated that “the inauguration of this committee is timely and necessary to provide the required technical guidance, inter-agency coordination, and policy alignment needed for the successful implementation of the programme across the country.”
Also speaking, the National Project Coordinator, SAPZ, Dr Kabir Yusuf, stated that “the Program Development Objective is to support inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial development in Nigeria, aimed at diversifying Nigeria’s economy through agriculture and reduction of food import bill.”
He pointed out that “SAPZ is a cross-cutting platform to attract private sector investment into value-added agro-processing to unlock opportunities for improved food security, job creation, export earnings, rural poverty reduction, and increased contribution of agriculture to national GDP.”