AfDB, Arab Bank, others to commence 2nd phase of SAPZ with $1bn in 28 states – Adesina

…GEJ, Koroma at commissioning of CSS soybean plant, refinery in Nasarawa

The African Development Bank (AfDB), in collaboration with the Arab Bank for African Economic Development and other development partners will be supporting 28 states with $1billion in the second phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme in Nigeria.

The fund is part of the AfDB financing plans for the benefiting states, including Nasarawa.

Already, the bank and its partners were supporting the Federal Government implementing a $538 million for the development of SAPZ in seven states: Cross River, Imo, Oyo, Ogun, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Akinwumi Adesina, president of the AfDB, stated this penultimate recently, during the inauguration of a soybean plant and refinery by the Called Servant to Service (CSS) Global Integrated Farms in Gora, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The ultramodern factory, which has the capacity to produce 10,000 liters of soybean oil per day, is a major milestone in Nigeria’s agricultural sector today.

He added that the refinery would contribute to reducing Nigeria’s crude soybean oil imports, which were estimated at $62.2 million in 2023.

Adesina further that the success of the farm’s operations would be greatly enhanced within the context of the development of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in the country.

While regretting the high level of hunger in Nigeria due to hike in food prices, Adesina said, accelerated efforts are needed to expand food production, lower the price of food commodities, eliminate food import dependency and support local farmers to feed the nation.

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“The second phase of the programme would cover the remaining 28 states, with a financing target of one billion dollars from AfDB, the Arab Bank for African Economic Development, and the private sector,” Adesina said.

Adesina also said that during the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) held between 4 and 6 December, 2024, in Rabat, Morocco,

that the AfDB and its AIF partners were able to also mobilise $2.2 billion in investment interest for the development of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Nigeria.

The AfDB president also mentioned that Nasarawa would be included in the second phase of the programme, adding that when established, the Called Servant to Service Farms would serve as a key anchor investor in the zone.

Adesina, however, commended Called Servant to Service Farms for its role in improving food production, promoting agribusiness, especially among Nigerian youths, and achieving the global International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001 certification.

Goodluck Jonathan, former Nigerian President and his counterpart from Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma encouraged wealthy individuals to emulate the founder and CEO of the CSS Global Integrated Farms for complementing what the Federal Government is doing to ensure food security and wealth creation

Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Emmanuel Akabe, while speaking on behalf of Governor Abdullahi Sule at a special thanksgiving Church service presided by the Metropolitan Arch Bishop of Abuja, commended the founder of CSS Global Integrated Farms Limited, John Kennedy Okpara for establishing the state-of-the-art facility in the state, assuring that the state will continue to develop investor-friendly policies that will make it an investment haven.

Okpara, founder of the one thousand, seven hundred and fifty hectare farm, said the establishment of the oil refinery at the farm which also serves as a training ground for young farmers and entrepreneurs was to key into the integrated system of agriculture and converting waste to wealth as well as addressing food crisis and providing platform for employment.