The director-general of the  Nigeria County Department of the African Development Bank, Abdul Kamara, has emphasised the need to boost agriculture production and add value to transform the Nigerian economy.

Mr Kamara, in a statement, said this at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Eruwa Agribusiness Industrial Hub in Oyo on Thursday.

He commended the Oyo governor for revitalising the rural landscape.

Mr Kamara noted that the Eruwa Agribusiness Industrial Hub initiative aligned with the AfDB’s vision for economic transformation.

He stressed that the days of relying on unprocessed raw materials were over, citing the non-renewable nature of these resources and market volatility.

Instead, Mr Kamara advocated for productivity growth, boosting production, and adding value to agricultural commodities.

“The Nigeria Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme (SAPZ) aims to increase food production efficiency, create employment, and promote investments in agro-industry and agribusiness,” stated Mr Kamara. “The programme also seeks to build capacity, skills, and entrepreneurship for inclusive agro-industrial development in Africa.”

Mr Kamara lauded the Oyo government for building sufficient infrastructure and implementing the right policies and regulations to transform and modernise the agriculture sector.

He reaffirmed the AfDB’s commitment to the growth of the state, country, and continent.

“The Eruwa Agribusiness Industrial Hub is expected to be a game-changer for the agricultural sector in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole,” said Mr Kamara.

(NAN)