Anambra State is currently under scrutiny by a joint preparatory mission team comprising representatives from the Federal Government and the African Development Bank (FGN/AFDB). The team’s primary objective is to conduct a comprehensive two-day assessment of the state’s preparedness to partake in the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme (SAPZ).
Led by Dr. Chuma Ezedinma, the head of the African Development Bank SAPZ Initiative, the team includes experts from various sectors such as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the SAPZ programme, and African Rice.
The SAPZ programme, housed within the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, aims to bolster food security initiatives. Anambra State stands to benefit from phase two of the project with assistance from the African Development Bank if it successfully passes the assessment.
During deliberations with key stakeholders at the Anambra State Investment, Promotion, and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), the team reviewed the Anambra State Mixed-Used Industrial City Master Plan presented by Artelia Consulting Engineers Limited India.
Dr. Ezedinma commended the state’s level of readiness, particularly highlighting the quality of the industrial city master plan, which he deemed superior to those of other states under consideration. He affirmed Anambra’s readiness, citing the substantial private sector involvement as a crucial factor in supporting the state’s ambitions.
Dr. Forster Ihejiofor, the Commissioner for Agriculture, expressed satisfaction with the state’s preparedness, emphasizing the integration of mechanization and technology to ensure year-round production within the SAPZ framework. He predicted that Anambra would serve as a benchmark for other states once the programme is implemented.
Mr. Christian Udechukwu, the Commissioner for Industry, echoed Dr. Ihejiofor’s sentiments, underlining the potential funding support from AFDB for the SAPZ project within the Anambra State Industrial City.
Mr. Mark Okoye, the Managing Director of ANSIPPA, hailed SAPZ as one of the most ambitious and impactful projects under consideration by the Soludo Administration, potentially setting a precedent for development across Southeast Nigeria.
