By Busola Aro

The federal government has signed an agreement to provide electricity to special agro-industrial processing zones (SAPZs) across the country, as it seeks to boost agricultural productivity and rural industrialisation.

The agreement, signed on Monday in Abuja between the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the SAPZ programme, covers joint assessment, technical assistance and energy deployment across the processing zones under the agency’s Desert to Power initiative.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Monday, vice-president Kashim Shettima, said access to reliable and affordable electricity is critical to the success of the SAPZ programme and has the potential to transform Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

Shettima, who was represented by Ibrahim Hadejia, deputy chief of staff to the president, said the government would continue to support partnerships that unlock growth across key sectors of the economy.

“The SAPZ programme, if fully operationalised, has the potential to transform agricultural productivity across the country and improve the wellbeing of rural communities,” the vice president said.

The agreement provides for joint assessments, technical assistance and the deployment of energy infrastructure across SAPZ sites under the REA’s Desert to Power initiative.

On his part, Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, described the partnership involving the African Development Bank (AfDB), the REA and the ministry as a major step towards addressing infrastructure constraints in the agricultural sector.

“Beyond bridging the infrastructure gap in the agricultural sector, the programme is designed to improve the livelihoods of farmers and people in rural communities in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Kyari said.

Abba Aliyu, managing director (MD) of the REA, said the agency has completed 424 mini-grid projects across the country, while 693 others are under construction.

He said the proposed partnership is expected to provide electricity to about 25,000 households, 13 health facilities and directly impact more than 103,000 people in each designated SAPZ location.

Also, Kabir Yusuf, national programme coordinator of the SAPZ, said inadequate electricity remains one of the biggest challenges facing the programme.

Yusuf expressed confidence that the deployment of mini-grids would strengthen agricultural production clusters and improve power supply in surrounding communities.

Source : TheCable