Jigawa state set to Join African Development Bank’s SAPZs programme

By Ali Rabiu Ali Gwaram, Dutse

In a significant move to boost its agricultural sector and improve livelihoods, the Jigawa State Government has expressed its interest in joining the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) programme.

A team from the AfDB, led by Monde Nyambe, visited the state government in Dutse on Wednesday to discuss the details of the programme.

The SAPZs programme aims to establish agro-industrial hubs that will enhance the state’s agricultural productivity, processing, and marketing capabilities.

Governor Mallam Umar Namadi, who received the AfDB team, expressed his government’s commitment to the programme, citing its potential to benefit the state’s population, particularly its youth.

“Jigawa is an agrarian state with a projected population of about 7.5 million people, and about 35% of our population are youth. We believe that the SAPZs programme is a good fit for our state, and we are fully ready to key into it,” he said.

The Governor added that the programme aligns with the state’s development priorities, which include improving agricultural productivity, creating jobs, and reducing poverty.

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“We are committed to providing all necessary support to ensure the success of this programme, which we believe will have a positive impact on the lives of our people,” he said.

The AfDB team leader, Monde Nyambe, expressed delight at Jigawa’s readiness to join the programme, which is part of the bank’s efforts to support African countries in achieving their development goals.

“We started our relationship with Jigawa three years ago, and we are pleased to see that the state is ready to join the second phase of the SAPZs programme,” he said.

The SAPZs programme is expected to be implemented in the Gagarara Local Government area, which is known for its agricultural potential.

The programme will involve the establishment of agro-industrial hubs that will provide farmers with access to markets, processing facilities, and other support services.

With Jigawa’s joining of the SAPZs programme, the state is poised to become a major player in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, creating jobs and improving livelihoods for its citizens.