The Kaduna State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project is a flagship ini-tiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and other develop-ment partners. It is designed to accelerate agricultural transformation, promote inclusive growth, and stimulate sustainable rural industrialization.
The project focuses on two strategic sites:
• Agro-Industrial Hub (AIH), Daki-Takwas, Chikun LGA (250 ha): A large-scale facility dedicated to processing, storage, and value addition, leveraging proximity to the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway for enhanced market access.
• Agricultural Transformation Centre (ATC), Kuzuntu–Dutsen-Wai, Kubau LGA (30 ha): A center for aggregation, training, and primary processing, strategically lo-cated within an agriculturally rich corridor.
Both locations were selected for their high agricultural potential and alignment with Kaduna State’s Agricultural Development Policy. However, they are characterized by rural settlement patterns, dependence on subsistence farming, limited infrastructure, and customary land ten-ure, necessitating a structured, inclusive, and context-sensitive approach to stakeholder en-gagement.
The SAPZ project has four main components:
- Enabling infrastructure development (roads, power, water, waste systems).
- Agricultural productivity and value chain enhancement.
- Institutional strengthening and private sector participation.
- Programme management and coordination.
The overarching goal is to drive agribusiness competitiveness, strengthen food systems, and improve rural livelihoods through sustainable agro-industrial development.
Given the project’s scope and potential environmental and social implications, it has been classified as a Category 1 project under the AfDB Integrated Safeguards System (ISS), re-quiring key safeguard instruments including the Environmental and Social Impact Assess-ment (ESIA), Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), Livelihood Restoration Plan (LRP), and this Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP).
ES2. Purpose and Objectives of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP)
The SEP provides a comprehensive framework for transparent, inclusive, and continuous stakeholder engagement throughout the SAPZ project lifecycle. It ensures that stakeholder concerns are systematically identified, addressed, and integrated into project decision-making to foster ownership, accountability, and social license to operate.
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