Fed Govt, IFAD launch second supervision mission to fast-track SAPZ implementation

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have commenced the second joint supervision mission of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, renewing their commitment to driving reforms that will reshape the country’s agricultural and agro-industrial sectors.

Speaking at the opening session in Abuja, yesterday, IFAD Country Director for Nigeria, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, described the mission as a strategic moment of reflection, recalibration and renewed commitment to strengthening the SAPZ programme, which she noted is a flagship initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The SAPZ programme, co-financed by the Federal Government, IFAD, African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), aims to structurally transform Nigeria’s food systems through agro-industrialisation, enterprise development, market integration, job creation and rural prosperity.

Providing an update on progress since the last mission, Ekoue announced that 41,204 smallholder farmers and value chain actors have been profiled across Ogun and Kano states, adding to profiling exercises carried out in 2024 and 2025.

According to her, 14,655 farmers have so far received inputs, training and digital tools, including climate advisory services.  In total, 15,664 beneficiaries comprising 9,353 men and 6,311 women, including 3,955 youth, have been supported under the programme.

She noted that women constitute half of the profiled actors in Ogun State, while youth represent nearly a quarter of those captured in Kano.

Ekoue highlighted the progress made under IFAD’s 4P (public–private–producer partnership) model, including the establishment of the Multistakeholder Agribusiness Forum (MAF) and the signing of 24 Memoranda of Understanding linking cassava, rice, tomato and groundnut farmers to guaranteed offtakers.

“These partnerships are helping to reduce commercialization risks, strengthen market access, and safeguard farmers’ incomes,” she said.

The programme is also advancing gender and nutrition initiatives through household engagements and food demonstrations targeted at women.

As part of IFAD’s Digital Innovation Action Plan, digital tools have been deployed to support climate-smart agriculture, delivering digital climate information services to nearly 16,000 farmers and processors, while all profiling and geospatial mapping activities are now fully digitised.