NIGERIA SECURES AFDB FUNDING FOR MAJOR AGRO-ZONE EXPANSION
Nigeria Gets AfDB Nod for SAPZ Phase 2
Nigeria has secured a significant funding commitment from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to roll out the second phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program. Vice President Kashim Shettima made the request to AfDB President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York.
24 States to Benefit from Agricultural Leap
The SAPZ Phase 2 project is a massive scale-up, expanding from the initial eight states and the FCT to an additional 24 states. The goal is to rapidly diversify Nigeria’s economy away from its reliance on oil and boost value-added agricultural exports by building climate-resilient infrastructure. VP Shettima noted Nigeria’s immense agricultural potential and its status as the largest shareholder in the AfDB.
VP Shettima Pushes for Tech and Caribbean Ties
Beyond farming, the Vice President also urged the AfDB to prioritize support for innovation-driven enterprises (IDEs) in the digital space, pointing out that five of Africa’s eight unicorns are Nigerian. In a separate meeting, VP Shettima met with Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, to commit to strengthening economic and cultural ties between Nigeria and the Caribbean nation.
