Kogi State has moved to deepen international partnerships as it seeks to fast-track implementation of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme, a major economic initiative aimed at transforming agriculture into large-scale industrial growth.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, the SAPZ project is designed to increase food production, expand processing capacity, generate jobs, attract private investment and establish Kogi as a leading agricultural and industrial centre in Nigeria.
The latest engagement focuses on the planned development of a modern agricultural science and technology industrial park in the state, a project officials say will serve as a key pillar of the wider SAPZ framework.
The industrial park is expected to support agro-processing activities, encourage the transfer of modern farming technology, improve access to agricultural equipment and create an environment for enterprise incubation and innovation.
Authorities also say the project is intended to strengthen logistics networks, expand cold chain systems, improve export readiness and deliver more reliable power solutions for agricultural businesses.
Kogi’s SAPZ model is built around the Ajaokuta Agro-Industrial Hub, supported by Agricultural Transformation Centres located in Anyigba, Alape and Osara, alongside the Zariagi Agro-Air Hub.
The structure is intended to connect existing farming communities with an additional 150,000 hectares of farmland in each zone, creating room for expanded commercial production and tenant-driven agricultural investment.
Priority sectors identified under the programme include rice, maize, cassava, livestock and poultry, sesame, cashew, oil palm and greenhouse farming.
Beyond crop production, the state says the initiative includes essential support infrastructure such as warehousing, cold storage systems, power solutions, compressed natural gas, farm technology, machinery deployment and agro-export logistics.
As part of efforts to move the project into implementation, Kogi State signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Hezheng Holdings Group and Hezheng Digital Technology, also known as Hezheng Innovation Valley.
Officials described the agreement as an important shift from planning to execution, saying it reflects the government’s strategy of bringing in credible technical partners, industrial park operators, investors and international business platforms.
The Kogi delegation involved in the engagement was led by Alhaji Yakubu Okala, the state Auditor-General and Project Investment Adviser, who represented Governor Usman Ododo.
Other members included Commissioner for Agriculture Ojomah Timothy, Technical Adviser to the Governor’s Office Dr. Abdullahi Ozomata, Chief Economic Adviser Aliyu Inda Salami, and project consultant David Lekan Obatolu of Pulse Engineering and Consulting Limited.
During the visit, the delegation toured several Hezheng facilities, including its investment promotion centre, agricultural industry exhibition hall, global launch hall and live-streaming incubation base.
The visit was aimed at studying Hezheng’s industrial park management system, enterprise support structure, use of agricultural technology and strategies for accessing international markets.
Talks between both sides reportedly centred on practical implementation areas such as industrial park construction, technology transfer, processing infrastructure, enterprise incubation, management systems, investment mobilisation and equipment deployment.
They also examined options for building a long-term China-Kogi industrial cooperation platform that could support sustained trade, investment and technical collaboration.
According to the statement, both parties expressed strong alignment on the project’s vision and roadmap, with technical and commercial work expected to continue in the coming months.
Those next steps are expected to include preparatory work for groundbreaking activities as well as the establishment of coordination offices in China, Kogi State and Abuja.
The state government said the engagement demonstrates its determination to move the SAPZ initiative beyond policy announcements and into measurable execution.
Officials believe the programme can improve food security, strengthen value addition, create employment, connect farmers more directly to markets, expand exports and open new economic opportunities for residents.
If successfully implemented, the SAPZ project could become one of Kogi State’s most significant industrial diversification efforts, using agriculture as a foundation for broader manufacturing and investment growth.
