By Bauchi State is positioning itself to attract billions of dollars in agro-industrial investments as Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed reaffirmed the state’s readiness to implement the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.
The governor made the statement while receiving a delegation of SAPZ officials at the Government House in Bauchi during a courtesy visit.
The delegation, led by Chuma Ezedinma of the African Development Bank, said the team was in the state on a pre-appraisal mission to assess Bauchi’s preparedness for the initiative.
According to Ezedinma, the SAPZ programme is jointly funded by the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and other development partners. The initiative is designed to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector by establishing agro-industrial clusters that will boost processing, value addition, and market access.
He explained that the mission would review the state’s institutional structures, documentation, and operational readiness to ensure the smooth implementation of the programme.
Governor Mohammed noted that the initiative aligns with his administration’s agricultural development strategy aimed at strengthening the value chain and promoting large-scale mechanised farming.
He added that the state government has already put in place the necessary administrative frameworks to attract investors and maximise the benefits of the SAPZ initiative for the state’s economy and agricultural sector.
