The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), is set to launch the Oyo State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) with an opening ceremony scheduled for August 2, 2025.
The event will take place at the Phase I SAPZ site in Atan, Ijaiye, within the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.
According to a statement released by the AfDB in Abuja, the project marks a significant step in Nigeria’s push for agricultural transformation and rural industrialisation.
Occupying 300 hectares of land along the Lagos-Ibadan Railway Line, the Oyo SAPZ is designed to strengthen agricultural value chains in cassava, maize, poultry, and horticulture.
The zone is expected to enhance food security, attract agribusiness investment, and generate employment by providing improved market access and transport infrastructure.
AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina will lead the groundbreaking, alongside senior Nigerian officials and representatives from partner institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Africa Grow Together Fund.
The Oyo SAPZ becomes the third zone under Phase I of the programme, following earlier launches in April in Kaduna and Cross River States.
With this expansion into the Southwest, the SAPZ programme continues advancing its rural economic development goal through agro-based investments.
The project, backed by a $538 million financing package from AfDB, IsDB, IFAD, and the Africa Grow Together Fund, aligns with AfDB’s “Feed Africa High 5” priority.
It is described as the Bank’s most significant agriculture-focused investment on the continent.
“This project represents Nigeria’s strategic drive towards agro-industrialisation by leveraging public-private partnerships to modernise agriculture and create inclusive prosperity across the value chain,” the AfDB said.
The Bank also reaffirmed its long-standing partnership with Nigeria, stating that its total commitments to the country have reached nearly $11 billion, with agriculture as a core development area.
