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Nigeria Rallies SAPZ-2 Partners To Accelerate Agro-Industrial Growth

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Nigeria Rallies SAPZ-2 Partners To Accelerate Agro-Industrial Growth

*** Innovative hubs target food security, job creation, economic diversification – VP Shettima

By: Our Reporter

The Nigerian government has called on international development partners to co-finance phase two of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone known as SAPZ-2 programme to accelerate the implementation of the initiative for agro-industrial growth in the country.

This is just as Vice President Kashim Shettima has described the project as a game changer for the nation’s economy, saying accelerated implementation plan for phase one and the on-boarding of the phase-two states will enable the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to actualize its food security agenda.

The Nigeria Special Agro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme aims to create new hubs that integrate the production, processing and distribution of targeted crops and livestock to achieve food security, increase incomes, improve livelihoods, and support economic diversification.

Speaking on Thursday during the SAPZ-2 programme co-financiers meeting held at Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Vice President said the SAPZ programme would be a win-win situation for both the Nigerian government and the development partners in meeting their development objectives and impacting livelihoods.

He said, “This meeting has become imperative to mobilize additional financing for the second phase of the programme to accommodate more States beyond the ten that has been earmarked.

“We currently have a commitment of US$600 million from AfDB through a multi-tranche financing arrangement of US$200 million/year and US$300 million from BADEA expected to be allocated on a US$100 million/year basis.”

On phase one of the initiative, VP Shettima noted that the first phase taught a lot of lessons which is helping the government to reshape the programme towards an accelerated delivery,

Noting that the whole idea will actualize the administration’s food security agenda, he said, “With the African Development Bank (AfDB), the SAPZ programme is different from any other programme and has been set on autopilot with the Design, Build and Operate (DBO) model that is set to deliver infrastructure for the processing zones by the end of 2025.

“The accelerated implementation plan for phase one and the on-boarding of the phase-two states will enable us to achieve Mr. President’s Food Security Agenda.

“The strategic focus is to set modalities for increased production and processing of Cassava, Rice, Maize, Cocoa, Tomatoes, and Livestock amongst other designated SAPZ priority crops in all the seven participating states and the FCT for this upcoming dry season”.

The VP described SAPZ as the agri-business model for Nigeria to diversify its economy through agriculture as well as a platform for development partners to deliver on their developmental objectives across the various SDGs.

He noted that the Nigerian government has made it a Presidential priority programme and has “kick-started the legal arrangement to institutionalize it as an agency of government for sustainability”.

Applauding their commitments to co-finance the initiative together with the Nigerian government, the VP commended the AfDB, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for their unwavering commitment to ensuring that SAPZ programme delivers on its objective.

Earlier, National Programme Coordinator, SAPZ, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, said the project is designed to bolster Nigeria’s agro-industrial development, boost food security, create jobs, and reduce poverty, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The primary objective is to support sustainable and inclusive agro-industrial development through four components: infrastructure development in agro-industrial hubs, agricultural productivity, policy implementation, and program management.

“For every participating state, we first identify the crop with a competitive and comparative advantage, then support production and agro processing to reduce Nigeria’s 40 percent post-harvest losses. Closing this gap can improve food security by 40 percent,” Yusuf explained.

The programme spans eight states—Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“We provide catalytic infrastructure such as power, access roads, and water treatment plants, significantly reducing operating costs for investors. This initiative not only supports agro-industries but also positions Nigeria for sustainable economic diversification,” he added.

Also, Nigeria Country Director for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Ms. Dede Ekoue noted that the SAPZ-1 had remarkable success in the states.

“We are seeing positive outcomes in Kano, where the lives of smallholder farmers and agro-industries have improved. This programme is a federal government priority, aiming to promote inclusive agro-industrialisation, enhance food security, and create jobs. Nigeria’s leadership in this sector can influence the entire continent,” she stated.

For his part, Director General of the African Development Bank Group’s Nigeria Country Office, Dr. Abdul Kamara described the SAPZ as having the highest potential to bring change to Nigeria.

“This comprehensive programme doesn’t just boost production but also creates opportunities for value addition, aligning with President Tinubu’s commitment to food security and youth employment. It positions Nigeria to leverage opportunities like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) by adding value to exports beyond national consumption,” Kamara explained.

Also, a member of Nigeria Country Office for the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Mr. Daniyar Abylkhan, commended the SAPZ initiative, saying it aligns with the IsDB’s goals of addressing food insecurity and improving livelihoods.

“Based on the success of the first phase, we are committed to participating in the second phase and ensuring its continued impact,” Abylkhan noted.

Other partners present at the meeting included the Federal Ministry of Finance, World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Rural Electrification Agency (REA) among others.

Nigeria Rallies SAPZ-2 Partners To Accelerate Agro-Industrial Growth

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Army troops restore calm after farmers, herders clash in Sokoto

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Army troops restore calm after farmers, herders clash in Sokoto

By: Zagazola Makama

The troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have restored normalcy to Karangiya and Danjawo villages in Silame Local Government Area following a violent clash between farmers and herders on Sunday.

Zagazola reliably informed by sources that the clash erupted at about 9 a.m. over alleged cultivation of farmlands along cattle routes.

According to the sources, the altercation between Hausa farmers from Karangiya and Fulani herders from Danjawo escalated into violence before security operatives intervened.

The troops swiftly moved to the scene to restore order.

Nine people from both sides five farmers and four herders sustained varying degrees of injuries. Five were treated and discharged at the Silame General Hospital, while three others are still receiving treatment.

The Chairman of Silame Local Government Area has convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to find a lasting solution to the dispute.

Intensive patrols and surveillance have been intensified in the affected communities, while calm has been restored.

Army troops restore calm after farmers, herders clash in Sokoto

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WANEP Hosts National Briefing on Rising Concerns of Religious Radicalism•Highlights risks of unregulated Madrassas in Nigeria

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WANEP Hosts National Briefing on Rising Concerns of Religious Radicalism
•Highlights risks of unregulated Madrassas in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), under the EU-supported Research and Action for Peace (REcAP) program, hosted a national deliberative briefing to present key findings from two studies exploring the ideological, cultural, and security implications of madrassas in both Northern and Southwestern Nigeria.

This was disclosed in a statement made available on Monday by Mr Emmanuel Ami-Okhani, the representative of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) in Nigeria.

The session was attended by policymakers, researchers, civil society actors, and security stakeholders, focused on understanding how religious education intersects with radical ideologies, external funding, and youth identity in Nigeria.

The REcAP project, implemented by WANEP in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), aims to strengthen the role of civil society and research in shaping effective responses to conflict, violent extremism, and peacebuilding across West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin.

One of the working paper presentations of a major study titled “Madrasas, Charities and Religious Radicalism in Northern Nigeria: A Study of the Almajiri System,” authored by Prof. Freedom Onuoha, Dr Saheed Babajide Owonikoko, and Dr Chukwuma Okoli, explored the theological foundations and operational structures of the Almajiri system, particularly in Abuja, Kano, and Borno states, regions selected for their population size, security relevance, and Islamic education presence.

The research highlighted that the Almajiri system, rooted in the Arabic term al-muhajirun (meaning “to migrate for knowledge”), has historically served as a respected Islamic education platform but has since suffered neglect, a lack of regulation, and infiltration by unverified foreign actors.

According to Owonikoko, who presented the paper, the study found evidence of informal funding from foreign religious charities, mainly from the Middle East. Still, it warned that such support is largely undocumented, making it difficult to monitor for extremist influence.

He disclosed that, based on interviews conducted with school custodians, scholars, former Almajiri students, and security agents, a key concern is the lack of transparency surrounding financial donations and the ideological content introduced by some foreign-linked clerics.

He cited historical and contemporary cases where charities from countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran supported specific sectarian ideologies within Almajiri schools. However, direct links between this support and actual radicalisation remain hard to legally establish due to the clandestine nature of donations.

Owonikoko noted during the presentation that “most Almajiri schools are not documented or supervised, making them vulnerable to ideological manipulation through informal funding channels.”

“While the majority of Almajiri students are peaceful and focused on Quranic education, the lack of structure creates loopholes that can be exploited by extremist elements.”

A second study titled “Madrassas and Islamic Extremism among Teenage Muslim Students in Southwestern Nigeria” was presented by Dr Busari Dauda of the University of Ilorin. Co-authored with Dr Alatise Remi Kasalla from Osogbo, provided an empirical view of how madrassas are shaping youth religious identity in the South-West amidst growing ideological influences from the Middle East.

Unlike the Northern context, madrassas in Ilorin, Ibadan, and Osogbo were found to be more structured, often registered with education ministries and integrated into Yoruba Islamic cultural life, Dr Dauda revealed.

However, the study noted that sectarian interests and prestige-seeking among madrassa founders contribute to the proliferation of ideologically driven schools. Economic motivations and cultural acceptance also play significant roles in their expansion.

Dauda, during his presentation, stressed that, while the study found no widespread evidence of violent radicalisation, it did highlight growing perceptions of global injustice among teenage students, particularly around issues like the Palestinian conflict and Western treatment of Muslims.

He said, these sentiments, amplified by digital media and foreign ideological narratives, shape how young Muslims interpret their religious and social identity.

Dauda emphasised that “extremism is not part of the curriculum, but ideological influences can filter in through sect-based teachings and global narratives of Muslim victimhood.”

WANEP Hosts National Briefing on Rising Concerns of Religious Radicalism
•Highlights risks of unregulated Madrassas in Nigeria

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Army troops recover 70 rustled livestock after gun duel with bandits in Katsina

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Army troops recover 70 rustled livestock after gun duel with bandits in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

Army troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA in Katsina have recovered 70 goats and several sheep after engaging suspected bandits in a fierce gun battle in Bakori Local Government Area of the state.

Sources indicated that the incident occurred on Oct. 25, 2025, at about 11:50 p.m., when armed men suspected to be bandits loyal to a notorious leader known as “Abaku Aiki” who reportedly distanced himself from the recent peace accord invaded Ganjar and Alhazawa, two remote villages under Bakori LGA.

The bandits reportedly kidnapped an unspecified number of residents and rustled several domestic animals during the attack.

The troops in collaboration with other security agencies intercepted the bandits at Laila Forest. A sustained exchange of gunfire ensued, forcing the criminals to abandon the stolen animals and flee into the forest.

The sources confirmed that 70 goats and some sheep were successfully recovered, while efforts are ongoing to track the fleeing bandits and rescue the abducted victims.

The troops assured residents of continuous patrol and collaboration with security agencies to ensure peace and stability in the area.

Army troops recover 70 rustled livestock after gun duel with bandits in Katsina

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