The Federal Government has launched a set of Agribusiness Industrial Hubs in Oyo State to address post-harvest losses and boost value addition across Nigeria’s farming communities. This move is part of a national strategy to modernize agriculture and create jobs under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The initiative was formally commissioned by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a flag-off event in Fasola. Two additional hubs are also planned for Eruwa and Atan-Ijaiye.
According to Shettima, the launch of these hubs marks a “watershed moment in the country’s economic diversification strategy.” He emphasized that the centers are expected to significantly cut Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and improve food security.
“These agribusiness hubs will serve as catalytic centers for food processing, storage, and distribution. By reducing post-harvest losses which currently account for up to 40% of total agricultural output we are unlocking significant economic value and securing livelihoods for millions,” he said.
The Oyo State hubs will accommodate over 40 agribusiness ventures, projected to generate direct and indirect employment for more than 100,000 Nigerians. They will also support over 500,000 farmers, from smallholder to medium-scale operators.
The project forms part of the broader Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program, a collaboration involving the Federal Government, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
Under the SAPZ initiative, the government aims to establish agro-processing and storage infrastructure across 28 states. The objective is to reduce post-harvest losses from 45% to 20% and create nearly 500,000 new jobs.
The AfDB has pledged $2.2 billion to the SAPZ rollout. The funding will support the construction of modern facilities close to farming areas, helping farmers reduce waste and increase earnings.
Efforts are also being supported by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), which has set up post-harvest facilities that include solar dryers, hermetic silos, and multi-crop storage units.
A recent example is the hub at Rivers State University, created in collaboration with NSPRI, to fight Nigeria’s ₦3.5 trillion annual losses due to poor post-harvest management.
The new hubs will provide services such as drying, packaging, value addition, and cold chain storage for key crops like cassava, maize, rice, and onions. The federal government plans to replicate this model across other states to encourage private sector investment and grow the agricultural value chain.
Stakeholders, including local entrepreneurs, research bodies, and international partners, have welcomed the move, calling it an important step toward sustainable agricultural development.