By Godswill Michael
The Federal Government has inaugurated an Inter-Agency Technical Committee for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme to strengthen Nigeria’s agro-industrial base, attract private investment, and drive inclusive economic growth.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, who inaugurated the committee at the ministry’s conference room in Abuja, said the move marks a critical milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward agricultural transformation and industrialization.
Committee to guide implementation of SAPZ programme
According to him, the committee is designed to guide the implementation of the SAPZ programme, ensure effective coordination among relevant agencies, and manage information sharing among stakeholders.
“The establishment of the Technical Committee marks an important milestone for the coordinated implementation and execution of the SAPZ Programme,” he stated.
Ogunbiyi explained that the SAPZ initiative adopts a strategic, cluster-based approach to unlock Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential through the provision of integrated infrastructure that links farmers to processors, markets, and industries.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to creating an enabling environment and providing the leadership necessary for the programme to achieve its mandate.
Outlining the committee’s Terms of Reference, he said it would provide technical guidance on implementation strategies, identify and address gaps, ensure alignment of sectoral policies with SAPZ objectives, and support monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure accountability and measurable impact.
He urged members 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 remarks, the Director, Federal Department of Development Partnership Projects, Mrs. Iluromi Olubunmi, described the inauguration as timely and necessary. She said it would “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 of SAPZ, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, highlighted that the programme’s development objective is to support inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial development, diversify Nigeria’s economy through agriculture, and reduce the food import bill.
He further explained 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.”
The highlight of the event was the formal inauguration of the committee, which includes representatives from key ministries such as Finance, Budget and Economic Planning; Water Resources; Women Affairs; Industry, Trade and Investment; Power; and Works, among other stakeholders.
The SAPZ programme, a flagship initiative of the Federal Government in collaboration with development partners, seeks to accelerate agro-industrial growth, enhance value chains, and position Nigeria as a competitive player in the global food market.
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