Vice-President Kashim Shettima has flagged off the construction of a special agro-industrial processing zone (SAPZ) in Kaduna state.
Gatekeepers News reports that Shettima flagged off the construction of Phase 1 of SAPZ at a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday.
This was announced in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, senior special assistant to the president on media and communications.
Addressing stakeholders at the vast expanse of land designated for the facility in Daki-Takwas, along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, Chikun LGA of Kaduna, Shettima said the special agro-industrial processing zone (SAPZ) will transform Nigerian economy.
He said SAPZ is a “presidential priority project” and a direct response to the longstanding challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, including poor infrastructure, limited access to markets, and low-value addition.
The vice-president declared the programme a strategic milestone in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s plan to industrialise Nigeria’s agriculture sector and create sustainable jobs across the country.
SAPZ is part of a larger national programme, with Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) among states in the first phase of the project.
Shettima expressed confidence that the initiative would catalyse economic growth by creating thousands of jobs and empowering
Nigerian youths.
He said, “We are not just breaking ground. We are building the infrastructure to feed our people, empower our youth, and fulfill the economic promise of our nation.”
“This is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about people. It is about the resilience of our farmers, the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs, and the commitment of our government to build a future that works for everyone.”
Shettima noted that while the nation cannot afford to be chained to outdated systems as the world moves with urgency towards innovation, the SAPZ initiative is a strategy that lays the foundation for “real economic transformation.”
The vice-president Kaduna state government for its leadership in agriculture, describing the state as a key driver of Nigeria’s agro-industrial future due to its abundant arable land and historical role in agricultural production.
He said, “Kaduna is not a stranger to agricultural leadership. What we are starting here today will become a model for other states to follow.”
Shettima highlighted the importance of involving young Nigerians in the agricultural revolution, noting that SAPZ would generate thousands of jobs and equip the youth with the skills to become active players in the economy.
He added, “The youth of Nigeria must not be spectators. They must be stakeholders and shapers of their own futures.”
On his part, Uba Sani, Kaduna state Governor, described the processing zone as a strategic investment designed to accelerate industrial development across Nigeria.
He said, “The SAPZ is a huge investment designed to position Kaduna as a major player in Nigeria’s industrial development.”
“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic development.”
Shattima said the current budget for agriculture in 2025 is N74.2 billion, up from N23.4 billion in 2024.
Sani emphasised agriculture’s central role in Kaduna’s economy, noting that it contributes 42 percent to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 60 per cent of the state workforce.
He said, “In the 2023 budget we inherited, agriculture received just N1.4 billion. However, in 2024, we increased it to N23.4 billion, and in 2025, we have approved N74.2 billion.”
