A delegation of newly elected governors from the North West region of the country has sought the support of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) to enhance cooperation and unlock Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential.
Led by Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, the seven governors emphasized the region’s abundant water and land resources, stating that with support, they can produce sufficient food, particularly rice and wheat, to address the country’s needs.
The North West, grappling with high poverty and food insecurity rates, attributed these challenges to inadequate infrastructure, weak extension services, limited value addition, and poor integration into domestic and regional markets.
Discussions in Abidjan with AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, focused on boosting food production, nutrition, and security.
The governors outlined plans to unleash the region’s rich agriculture potential and expedite the implementation of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs).
These SAPZs aim to enhance productivity, value addition, and market access through government-enabled and private sector-driven investments in strategic commodity value chains.
The delegation also explored opportunities to leverage AfDB’s renewable energy programs, including the $20 billion Desert-to-Power initiative, delivering 10,000MW of solar energy to nearly 250 million people across the Sahel region.
Governor Radda highlighted a coordinated approach with the AfDB to implement agriculture and power projects that drive development and improve livelihoods in the North West.
He pointed out challenges like the lack of irrigation infrastructure leading to low yields, post-harvest losses, youth unemployment, and insecurity.
Governor of Jigawa State emphasized his administration’s focus on strategic partnerships for rural infrastructure, farm mechanization, and climate-smart agriculture.
IThe North West governors collectively aim to select agricultural hubs promptly in collaboration with the AfDB to host the schemes.
Responding to the governors’ concerns, AfDB President Adesina assured them of the bank’s collaboration with the Federal Government to address high food and energy prices, urging prompt selection of agricultural hubs for effective implementation.
