The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, has concluded plans to establish a 230-hectare Agro-Industrial Hub (AIH) in Bagauda town, Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State.
The project is aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening value chains, and enhancing agro-processing and export capacity in the state.
This development was disclosed in a statement signed by the Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Rabi Mustapha Sadiq, at the end of the SAPZ/IsDB Supervision Mission in Kano.
The joint supervision mission commenced on December 14 and ended on December 18, 2025, with its final meeting held at the SAPZ Programme Office Conference Hall, Farm Centre, Kano.
The supervision mission focused on a comprehensive assessment of the SAPZ project, including a review of the implementation plan, as well as the physical and financial progress recorded so far.
It also identified potential challenges and deliberated on strategies to ensure effective and timely project delivery.
As part of the mission’s activities, extensive discussions were held with the Transaction Advisory Firm (TAF), Design and Supervision Consultants, Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Consultants, and other relevant stakeholders on the implementation of critical consultancy services required for the project.
The mission team also conducted field visits to the proposed sites for the Agro-Industrial Hub (AIH) and Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs) to assess site readiness and the level of stakeholder engagement.
Speaking during the meeting, the State Project Coordinator, Aminu Iliyasu, disclosed that the Kano State Government, under the leadership of Governor Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, has allocated a vast expanse of 230 hectares of land for the establishment of the agro-processing facility.
He further revealed that the contractor handling the project has completed the design phase, adding that construction work is expected to commence shortly.
According to him, the facility will focus on key agricultural value chains such as rice, tomato, groundnut, and sesame, covering secondary processing, packaging, marketing, and export of surplus produce.
A field visit was conducted on the third day of the supervision mission to the allocated sites of the AIH and ATCs in Bagauda, as well as Kakara in Gezawa Local Government Area and Dawanau in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, which are proposed locations for the establishment of Agricultural Transformation Centres.
The Kano State supervision mission was attended by representatives of the Islamic Development Bank, including the team leader, Sis. Masuda Saidova, and PMS Consultant, Brother Irfan Ullah Khan, alongside officials from the Federal Ministry of Finance, the SAPZ Programme, State and National Coordinating Offices, and other critical stakeholders.