Hope brightened on Thursday for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) being planned.
The funds for the implementation of the ambitious project have risen to $1.52 billion following a pledge by the international donor partners to boost the SAPZ with $1 billion.
The donor funds are being provided by Africa Development Bank (AfDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), state governments and private investors.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari dropped the hints after the 137th session of the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The minister said the programme, which will be spread through the 36 states of the federation, will create 17.5 million jobs and provide support to 100,000 farmers.
Prior to the $1 billion pledge, the Federal Government had earmarked about $530 million for the first phase of the SAPZ in Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Imo, Cross River and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The plan is to establish clusters of agricultural production and significantly reduce post-harvest losses.
Twenty-six states have expressed interest to participate in the Phase II of the programme, when government plans to deploy the $1 billion being rallied from other donors by the AfDB.
The states are to begin documentation for the second phase early next year.
It was learnt that the agreement for the funding was reached in October when Shettima attended the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue, World Food Prize 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa, United State (U.S.).
He said: “The Vice President who attended the World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa, met with the president of the AfDB. Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina who has already pledged $1 billion to the second phase.”
“The seven states are Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Imo and Cross River and like I said, with the FCT being the eighth partner in this programme.
“The quick wins here are that even in the stage of construction, you will have the opportunity for over 3,000 jobs.
“And at the end of the construction, opportunities will be for almost 500,000 jobs on each zone that is for each state and then also to support about 100,000 farmers.
According to him, the SAPZs as a cross-cutting initiative and is a platform to attract private sector investment, add value to Nigeria’s agro-processing and unlock opportunities for improved food security and job creation.
He said SAPZ, which commenced in 2022, saw the active participation of seven states and the FCT, even as the zones will not only serve as production sites “but also hubs for aggregation and processing of agricultural produce.”
For instance, Kano has keyed in to do a lot of tomatoes in this zone. And we know that tomato losses run to almost 50 to 60 per cent. It is unacceptable in today’s agricultural sector,” the minister pointed out.
The minister listed Abia, Adamawa and Yobe as the only states yet to expressed interest.
But as we were leaving here (yesterday), Abia had already signified and are working on sending the expression of interest,” Kyari said.
The NEC acknowledged the leading role of Ogun in the development of the special zones, noting that a commitment was recently secured from the Gateway state to sign Subsidiary Loan Agreement (SLA).
The NEC also approved the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Flood Mitigation, Adaptation, Preparedness and Response, including annual budgetary provision for the three tiers of government.
Chairman of the Committee and Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, told reporters that his panel recommended the establishment of a National Flood Management Council (NFMC) to be domiciled in the office of the Vice President.
Bello said: “Given that flood management is cross-cutting and multi-sectoral, requiring a comprehensive structure guided by strong frameworks and policies, the committee recommended the establishment of a National flood management council to be domiciled in the office of the vice president.
“On the advice of the proposed council, the President should declare a state of emergency when a category 4 flood occurs.”
On funding options, Bello said his committee recommended emergency climate sensitive budget approach and Natural Resource Development Fund, to mitigate and immediately respond to flood crisis in Nigeria.
“Annual budgetary provision for federal, state and local government areas, ecological fund, immediate response and strengthening of data management for effective early warning were also recommended.
Speaking on the adoption of the Flood Committee report, Budget & Planning Minister Atiku Bagudu said the Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum, provided six pivot irrigation schemes, each valued at $250,000 to support other states.
Bagudu said: “Very noteworthy item on the agenda today was an announcement by His Excellency, the Vice President, that the governor of Borno State, His Excellency Professor Babagana Zulum had made available from an inventory they are holding six pivot irrigation schemes, each costing $250,000 to support other states that are desirous of utilising them to support additional production and pastoralist population.
“Equally, he has made available two drilling rigs that are capable of drilling up to 2000 meters so that states that wish to avail themselves of such supports can make use of them.”
The NEC also approved plans to overhaul 17, 000 and 774 primary and secondary healthcare centres, respectively, saying the move is in response to identified funding gaps and deteriorating healthcare metrics.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, addressed the Council.
