Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to food security and job creation through the establishment of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in the state.
During a visit from a delegation of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Governor Ododo emphasized the state’s readiness to meet all requirements for the SAPZ project. The initiative, driven by AfDB, the Federal Ministry, and the Kogi State Government, aims to attract significant foreign and domestic investment.
Governor Ododo highlighted that 254 hectares of land in Ukpake, Ajaokuta local government area, have been allocated for the SAPZ. He cited the area’s strategic location and proximity to resources like water, electricity, gas, a railway line, and the proposed international cargo airport in Adogo as key factors for the site’s selection.
He assured the delegation of the state’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the project’s successful implementation. Ododo stressed that the SAPZ aligns with his administration’s industrialization policies and goals for food security through agricultural investment.
“The investment in the agricultural value chain will increase productivity, provide market access for farmers, and create job opportunities for our population,” Ododo stated.
Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Gaya, leading the AfDB delegation, noted that their assessment tour aimed to evaluate Kogi’s readiness for the second phase of SAPZ implementation in Nigeria. The first phase, covering seven states including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has already commenced.
State commissioners Asiwaju Ashiru Idris and Timothy Ojomah expressed the government’s political will and readiness to support the project, emphasizing the reliable supply of raw and semi-processed agricultural materials from Kogi’s Agricultural Transformation Centres.
The SAPZ is expected to process a variety of agricultural products, including maize, cassava, rice, palm oil, cashew, sugarcane, and fish, underscoring Governor Ododo’s vision of transforming Kogi State into an agro-industrial hub.
