Senior Special Adviser to the African Development Bank President, Prof Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, has said that eight Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones have been completed by the AfDB and its partners in Nigeria under Phase I, while 28 more are in the pipeline across the country.
Speaking on Saturday at the groundbreaking of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Ijaiye, Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, in his speech, made available to The PUNCH, said,
“In Nigeria, we have completed eight sites under SAPZ Phase One, with 28 more sites in the pipeline across the country. The journey continues. It affirms AfDB’s commitment to transforming Africa’s rural economies through agro-industrialisation.”
He further revealed that the SAPZ initiative had been expanded to 27 sites across 11 African countries, emphasising its continental reach.
“Today was a dream come true as we broke ground for the SAPZ Nigeria Industrial Hub in Ijaiye, Oyo State.”
It has been a decade of hard work, and it has been an honour to lead the implementation of Dr Adesina’s vision, which began in 2010 when he was Minister of Agriculture. Let’s continue to change the vision of Dr. Adesina that we’ve all worked hard to actualise,” Oyelaran-Oyeyinka said.
Oyelaran-Oyeyinka mentioned that the SAPZ programme’s transformative potential, anchored on a threefold vision: eliminating poverty, achieving full employment, and driving rapid industrialisation through rural transformation. “We want to create a Nigeria with life abundant for all,” he declared.
Phase I of the SAPZ programme in Nigeria spans seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), namely: Kaduna, Cross River, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Kano, Imo, and FCT.
He added, “The AfDB aims to expand this to 23 additional states by 2027, with 10 expected to be approved by the AfDB board by October 2025. The programme is jointly financed by the AfDB, Islamic Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Nigerian federal and state governments, with a total Phase I funding of $538m.”
Describing Oyo State as a strategic agricultural zone, Oyelaran-Oyeyinka noted its proximity to Lagos, vast arable land, and key infrastructure links as major advantages.
“With over 90 per cent of its 28,454 square kilometers being arable and a population approaching 8 million, Oyo is agriculturally blessed. It’s also just 29km from Ibadan, and well connected to the Obafemi Awolowo Railway Station and the modernising international cargo airport,” he said.
The 300-hectare SAPZ site in Ijaiye will focus on cassava, maize, poultry, soybeans, and horticulture, while the state is also developing a 2,800-hectare agribusiness hub with an Agricultural Transformation Centre in Eruwa. Both projects are supported by a $37m AfDB funding package.
The AfDB adviser urged the Federal Government to support the SAPZ initiative through two key policy actions: officially designate all SAPZs as Presidential Priority Projects and grant export-free zone status to SAPZ locations to attract investment and boost export-led growth.
Oyelaran-Oyeyinka explained the uniqueness of the SAPZ model, “This is a peri-urban locational strategy designed to induce structural transformation. Too many people are stuck in poverty, which is a drag on economic growth. SAPZs can change that.”
He also stressed the need for sustainable models, warning that many of Nigeria’s 42 Special Economic Zones have failed due to weak ownership structures.
“None that belong to the government work. That’s why our mantra is: Government-catalyzed, Private Sector Driven.”
Tying the SAPZ initiative to national economic goals, Oyelaran-Oyeyinka referenced a recent pronouncement at the Federal Executive Council meeting, where President Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s ambition to become a $1tn economy by 2030.
“At the current growth rate of 3.13 per cent, it will take 23 years to achieve that. But if we want to reach the $1tn goal in 10 years, we must hit 14.7 per cent GDP per capita growth. SAPZs are one of the practical pathways to accelerate growth,” he said.
He cited global examples, noting that China has nearly 3,000 industrial parks, Vietnam over 700, and South Korea over 900, suggesting Nigeria must follow suit to drive its industrial transformation.
The Oyo SAPZ groundbreaking was headlined by AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, along with development partners, senior government officials, and private sector leaders.
A statement by the AfDB emphasised that the SAPZ Programme is a flagship initiative under the Bank’s Feed Africa strategy, designed to expand market access, stimulate investment, and transform rural economies through inclusive agro-industrial growth.
It read, “The Oyo groundbreaking signals the southwest’s entry into the SAPZ programme and reaffirms the Bank’s commitment to regionally balanced development across Nigeria.”
