Addis ababa: Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria has already committed $538.05 million to the first phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme. Shettima made this known at the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, SAPZ is a flagship initiative aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, improving rural livelihoods, and accelerating agro-industrialisation. The vice-president explained that the programme was being implemented in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and other key development partners.
The initiative is projected to attract $1 billion in total investments by 2027, reduce post-harvest losses by 80 percent, and has already generated over 785,000 jobs across targeted regions. Shettima highlighted that African youths were holding the key to the continent’s agri-food future, urging efforts to mobilise this crucial asset.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling food insecurity, noting that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had reactivated over 500,000 hectares of arable land. The government has also deployed strategic food reserves and expanded access to seeds and extension services.
Shettima emphasised the importance of security sector reforms to ensure farmers can access their lands safely and continue food production in rural communities. He called for international collaboration to recharge the Lake Chad Basin, expand sustainable irrigation systems, and establish a national farm database.
He also advocated anticipatory action to climate shocks, emergency school feeding programmes in conflict-affected areas, and resilience-building initiatives to secure long-term stability, affirming that “Food security is the trust anchor of peace.”