Vice-President Kashim Shettima has called on the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support the second phase of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), aimed at expanding climate-resilient infrastructure and boosting inclusive agricultural growth.
Shettima made the appeal during a bilateral meeting with AfDB President, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
He noted that SAPZ Phase II will extend from the initial eight states and the Federal Capital Territory to 24 additional states, helping diversify Nigeria’s economy from reliance on crude oil to value-added agricultural exports.
“Nigeria is the bank’s largest shareholder with a portfolio of over $10 billion. We are grateful for your earlier $300 million support, but like Oliver Twist, we are asking for more,” Shettima said. He emphasized that Nigeria’s diverse agro-ecological zones—from mangrove forests in the south to the Sahel in the north—hold immense potential for agricultural production.
The vice-president highlighted the link between economic development and security challenges in the Sahel, stressing that agricultural transformation could address poverty, unemployment, and extremism. He also urged AfDB to invest more in innovation-driven enterprises, especially in the digital economy, citing Nigeria’s record of producing five out of Africa’s eight unicorn companies.
Responding, AfDB President Ould Tah pledged to strengthen support for Nigeria, stating that his vision for the bank goes beyond lending to mobilizing global capital for Africa’s transformation. He outlined his four strategic pillars: mobilizing large-scale partnerships, reforming Africa’s financial systems, converting its demographic advantage into economic strength, and driving job creation through value-added agriculture.
Earlier, Shettima also held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew, where both leaders committed to enhancing economic and cultural cooperation. Shettima assured that President Bola Tinubu is keen to rekindle historic ties with Caribbean nations, describing them as natural allies bound by shared heritage and Commonwealth ties.
Prime Minister Drew welcomed the move, stressing the need to deepen trade and engagement between the Caribbean and Africa.