Mkpoikana Udom
Port Harcourt — Nigeria has taken a bold step toward agricultural industrialization and economic diversification as Vice President Kashim Shettima flagged off the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, SAPZ, project in Cross River State, a development hailed as a game-changer for job creation, food security, and rural revitalization.
The SAPZ, backed by a multilateral coalition led by the African Development Bank, AfDB, Islamic Development Bank, and IFAD, is part of a continental initiative with $934 million already committed to projects in 11 African countries.
Nigeria’s first phase spans eight states, with a second phase projected to cover 28 states and attract a staggering $2.2 billion in investment.
Vice President Shettima, at the groundbreaking ceremony in Calabar, noted that nations build resilient economies by producing, processing, and exporting—by lifting rural areas into the mainstream of economic activity.
Shettima said, “The SAPZ initiative is a game-changer. It is aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and will address food security, enhance rural incomes, and drive sustainable economic growth. This is more than infrastructure, it is about transforming the lives of Nigerians.”
The Cross River hub will sit on 130 hectares and benefit from key logistics and power assets including the Calabar Seaport, the under-development Bakassi Deep Seaport, a 23MW power plant in Tinapa, and the 630MW Calabar Power Plant located 20km away. It also leverages the proximity to the Calabar River, an international airport, and proposed rail links across 14 local government areas.
Governor Bassey Otu described the SAPZ as the “engine room” of his administration’s prosperity agenda.
“This project will industrialize our agricultural sector and transform rural economies in areas like Ikom, Yala, Obanliku, and Obubra. It is not just about today, it is about our future,” Otu stated.
He emphasized the state’s readiness to support the zone’s full implementation. “We are positioning Cross River as a national and regional food production and export hub. The infrastructure is here, the land is fertile, and our people are ready.”
AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina, lauded the state’s leadership and commitment, noting that the long-delayed SAPZ vision is finally becoming reality.
“We are unlocking Nigeria’s full agricultural potential. The SAPZ will reduce food imports, attract private investment, and create thousands of jobs. The political will we see today—from President Tinubu to Governor Otu—is the fuel powering this transformation.”
Adesina noted that Nigeria remains central to AfDB’s vision for a food-secure Africa. “This is not a handout. It is an investment in Nigeria’s capacity to feed itself and the world. In phase two, we’re scaling to 28 states. The potential is enormous.”
With global food supply chains facing pressure and Nigeria seeking alternatives to oil revenue, the SAPZ marks a strategic shift toward agro-led industrial growth. Analysts say the initiative could reshape Nigeria’s balance of trade, boost rural livelihoods, and attract global agribusiness players seeking scalable production zones.
The Cross River SAPZ is expected to stimulate value chain development in rice, cassava, oil palm, cocoa, and other crops critical to Nigeria’s food economy. It is also expected to integrate smallholder farmers into formal processing and export networks.
