Minister Hails SAPZ Inauguration By President Buhari In Abuja 

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By: Freda Aideyan

The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has said that the inauguration of the Special Agro Processing Zones (SAPZ) in the Federal Capital Territory, underscores the Administration’s huge potentials as one of the nation’s most-important growth zones from which economic prosperity could spread to engulf the country.

The Minister stated this shortly after the official inauguration of the Special Agro Processing Zones by President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Aliyu, also said that the FCT Administration will consciously work with the private sector entities to create jobs, and to execute programmes and projects that would contribute to the presidential target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by the end of May 2029.

According to her, “The FCT Administration has demonstrated seriousness by making the largest commitment of complementary counterpart investment among the states in the first phase of the SAPZ and we are set for implementation.”

She, however, commended the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), for the partnership to promote Nigeria’s agricultural development.

The Minister specifically noted the interest of IsDB in Nigeria’s livestock sub-sector and in the choice of the FCT for its support in the first phase.

Speaking on the choice of livestock sub-sector for SAPZ development in the territory, Aliyu said it was intended to help end the incessant farmer-herder clashes, provide the opportunity for sedentarising nomadic pastoralists, enhance sub-sector productivity, promote mutual co-existence in an interdependent manner, and induce the rapid growth of agribusinesses and consequent socio-economic development.