FG Unveils Agribusiness Hubs in Oyo to Tackle Post-Harvest Losses, Boost Food Security

In a landmark move to overhaul Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the Federal Government has launched a network of Agribusiness Industrial Hubs in Oyo State, aimed at cutting post-harvest losses and driving value addition in rural farming communities.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commissioned the flagship facility in Fasola, with additional hubs planned for Eruwa and Atan-Ijaiye. The projects are part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to modernize agriculture and stimulate rural economies.

The hubs are expected to accommodate over 40 agribusiness ventures and generate employment for more than 100,000 Nigerians, while indirectly supporting the livelihoods of over 500,000 farmers, from smallholders to mid-sized operators.

Describing the initiative as “a watershed moment in the nation’s economic diversification journey,” Shettima said the hubs would play a critical role in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and improving food security.

“These hubs will become focal points for processing, storage, and distribution,” he said. “By addressing post-harvest losses—currently as high as 40%—we are unlocking economic value and safeguarding the livelihoods of millions.”

The Oyo State rollout is part of the broader Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program, an ambitious initiative backed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). Under this program, the government aims to establish similar hubs in 28 states, with a goal to reduce post-harvest losses from 45% to 20% and create nearly half a million jobs.

The AfDB has committed $2.2 billion to the SAPZ initiative, which brings processing and storage facilities closer to farm clusters, enabling farmers to reduce waste and increase profits.

Complementing these efforts, institutions like the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) have introduced innovative post-harvest technologies such as solar dryers, hermetic silos, and multi-crop storage units. A recent example is the hub at Rivers State University, launched in partnership with NSPRI, to help curb Nigeria’s estimated ?3.5 trillion in annual post-harvest losses.

The hubs will offer critical services including drying, packaging, value addition, and cold chain logistics for crops such as maize, cassava, rice, and onions.

Officials say the government plans to replicate the model across the country, while also encouraging greater private sector involvement in agricultural value chains.

Development partners, local entrepreneurs, and research institutions have welcomed the initiative as a bold and much-needed step toward ensuring sustainable agricultural transformation in Nigeria.