Kogi State has taken a bold step toward transforming its agricultural economy, sealing a strategic partnership with Chinese investors to accelerate the rollout of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the agreement signals a decisive shift from policy design to full-scale implementation, with the state positioning itself as a major agro-industrial hub.
At the centre of the deal is the establishment of a modern agricultural science and technology industrial park, expected to drive innovation, large-scale processing, and value addition across key agricultural value chains. The project is designed to introduce advanced technologies, boost mechanisation, strengthen logistics and cold chain systems, and provide sustainable power and export infrastructure.
The SAPZ framework in Kogi includes the Ajaokuta Agro-Industrial Hub, supported by Agricultural Transformation Centres in Anyigba, Alape, and Osara, alongside the Zariagi Agro-Air Hub. The initiative is structured to integrate existing farmer clusters while opening up an additional 150,000 hectares of farmland per zone for large-scale agricultural production.
Priority sectors under the programme include rice, maize, cassava, livestock and poultry, sesame, cashew, oil palm, and greenhouse farming—areas expected to significantly boost food production, create jobs, and attract private sector investment.
A major highlight of the development is the formal signing of a cooperation agreement with Hezheng Holdings Group and Hezheng Digital Technology, marking a concrete step toward global investment integration.
As part of the engagement, a Kogi delegation led by Auditor General and Project Investment Adviser, Alhaji Yakubu Okala, toured Hezheng’s facilities in China, gaining first-hand insights into industrial park operations, enterprise incubation, and international market expansion strategies.
Discussions between both parties focused on practical implementation steps, including technology transfer, infrastructure development, investment mobilisation, and the creation of a sustainable China–Kogi industrial cooperation platform.
Plans are already underway to advance technical and commercial processes, commence groundwork, and establish coordination offices in China, Kogi State, and Abuja to ensure seamless execution.
The agreement underscores Kogi State’s ambition to build a bankable agro-industrial ecosystem capable of enhancing food security, driving exports, and unlocking new economic opportunities—marking what officials describe as a turning point in the state’s economic development trajectory.