Seven recently elected Nigerian Governors visited Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group in Abidjan, aiming to enhance collaboration and unlock the country's extensive agricultural potential. Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda led the delegation, which included governors Nasiru Idris of Kebbi, Alhaji Umar Namadi of Jigawa, and Dr Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, as well as deputy governors from Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto.Focusing on boosting food production, nutrition, and security, the discussions aimed to explore innovative approaches to unleash the agricultural potential of North West Nigeria, home to 10 million of the country's 22 million heads of cattle.
The talks also addressed the fast-tracking of Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) implementation and leveraging AfDB's renewable energy programs.
Adesina praised the regional approach of the North West Governors and assured them of the Bank's support in developing a regional strategy.
He highlighted the Bank's goal to provide one billion dollars in financing to expand the SAPZ program in Nigeria, supporting up to 25 of the country's 36 states.
Adesina encouraged the governors to collaboratively select agricultural hubs promptly.
The AfDB president emphasized the bank's collaboration with the Nigerian government to address high food and energy prices.
He discussed the potential for meat processing in the region, especially in livestock, particularly cattle. Adesina called for substantive conversations about establishing beef processing zones in the North West.
He also mentioned the Bank's financing of various projects in the North West, including the Zaria Water Supply and Sanitation Project, the SAPZ program involving Kano and Kaduna, and the National Agriculture Growth Scheme (Agro-Pocket or NAGS) targeting increased wheat and rice production to reduce the country's wheat import expenditure.