By Agnes Amosinoh
The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Inter Agency Technical Committee has called on Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritize funding support for the livestock sector in their budgetary allocations.
Speaking during the FCT SAPZ Inter-Agency Technical Committee meeting in Abuja on Friday, the Mandate Secretary, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Comrade Ango Suleiman Abdulahi, who is the committee Chairman, emphasized the need for a collaborative and well-funded approach to actualize the vision of transforming the livestock value chain across the territory.
“We are requesting that all areas of need related to your agencies be considered a priority in your budgetary provisions,” the Secretary said. “This will help us realize the vision of the SAPZ in the FCT. Based on today’s presentations, the SAPZ in the FCT is leading nationally—we are setting the standard, and we want to maintain and sustain that leadership position.”
The SAPZ program, an initiative supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural development (IFAD) aims to revolutionize agricultural processing in Nigeria by establishing dedicated zones with modern infrastructure, logistics, and value-added services. In the FCT, the project is particularly focused on enhancing livestock production, processing, and marketing—sectors that are often underfunded and underdeveloped despite their economic potential.
The Mandate Secretary further highlighted the importance of leveraging the expertise and resources of all involved agencies. With representatives drawn from various MDAs, the inter-agency committee is expected to develop a coordinated implementation framework for the SAPZ initiative in the capital territory.
“We are committed to making this work, but we need all hands on deck. With your support and budgetary alignment, the SAPZ can deliver real impact, job creation, food security, and economic growth.”
The FCT SAPZ is currently one of the leading pilot zones under the national SAPZ program, positioning the territory to become a benchmark for other states in agricultural transformation.
The Coordinator of the FCT Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), Dr. Omole Olateju emphasized that the inter-agency technical committee meeting is a key activity of the SAPZ Project and a mandatory activity within its implementation framework.
“The meeting we held yesterday was that of the inter-agency technical committee, the primary responsibility of the Committee is to provide guidance and technical support to the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in the Implementation of Project activities,” Dr. Omole explained.
“The committee is also tasked with the responsibility of reviewing and clearing the Project’s Annual Workplan and Budget (AWPB) before it is forwarded to the Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Minister, for final approval.”
He further noted that the highlight of the meeting was to brief the committee on the Project's progress, highlighting the achievements, challenges, and implementation milestones from the beginning of the year to date. “We discussed the current stage of implementation, the challenges we’ve encountered, and identified areas where each stakeholder can intervene to help mitigate these challenges,” he said.
According to Dr. Omole, the technical committee comprises stakeholders from relevant ministries, departments, agencies, local authorities, and the SAPZ secretariat. “All agencies that have a role in achieving the project’s development objectives are members of this committee. It is a statutory requirement that the committee meets at least twice a year.”
The meeting serves two major purposes: to provide an update on project progress and to present the budget and work plan for the upcoming year. “As you observed, the meeting was highly interactive. Many of the participating agencies made valuable contributions, which will support us in achieving the project’s goals for 2026.”
He highlighted the importance of the meeting in keeping all stakeholders informed about the project’s status. “It is critical for agencies to understand how far we’ve come, how many beneficiaries we’ve reached compared to our targets, what remains to be done, and how to get it done.
He expressed optimism for the future: “If the contributions made during the meeting are implemented as proposed, we anticipate a significantly better performance in 2026. Many of the challenges identified have potential solutions, and if these are effectively applied, the coming year will be much more robust in terms of implementation.”
Dr. Ruka Wamaku, Acting Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board, a member of the technical committee emphasized the importance of the SAPZ program in empowering women, especially those in rural communities.
She noted that the initiative creates opportunities for women to participate in various sectors such as farming, catering, fisheries, and poultry. Given that women and children are often the most vulnerable in both health and economic contexts, empowering women through this project enables them to support themselves and their families, ultimately improving household well-being.
She stressed that when women are empowered and enlightened, they are better positioned to make decisions, including those related to health care, which they often cannot access without permission.
She further described the program as a laudable and timely initiative that will significantly benefit women, particularly in underserved rural areas, by providing them with meaningful economic opportunities and greater self-reliance.
Malam Haruna Umar, Director of Research and Statistics at the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, also a member of the committee, stated that the core purpose of the meeting is to support citizens—particularly farmers—by ensuring food security and improving livelihoods.
He emphasized that the meeting was crucial for approving the 2026 Project budget, a necessary step before any implementation can begin. By clearing bottlenecks and addressing grey areas, the stakeholders aim to ensure a smooth and effective rollout of the project, which is also expected to advance livestock development in the FCT.
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