Kaduna State has been selected to host the pilot phase of the Nigeria-China Poultry Project, a major agricultural investment projected to generate more than $450 million in revenue and create over 350,000 jobs. Governor Uba Sani announced this while receiving the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, alongside the leadership of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP).
The visit focused on strengthening agricultural and investment ties between Kaduna and China. Governor Sani described the engagement as a defining step in attracting transformative partnerships that position Kaduna as a continental hub for agricultural excellence. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for choosing Kaduna as the pilot state, noting that agriculture contributes 43 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP and employs over 60 per cent of citizens.
“With agriculture contributing 43 per cent to our GDP and employing more than 60 per cent of our citizens, this partnership will accelerate our pursuit of higher productivity, sustainable growth, food security, and broad-based prosperity,” Sani said.
The Director-General of the NCSP, Joseph Tegbe, commended Kaduna for fast-tracking approvals and allocating more than 7,000 hectares of land for the immediate commencement of the project. The Nigeria-China Poultry Project will run under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in partnership with the Federal Government and the Chinese Government, with construction scheduled to begin in December.
Governor Sani also reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to deepen partnerships that boost food security and drive inclusive economic growth across Kaduna State.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, praised the governor, stating that Kaduna has witnessed significant agro-industrial transformation within just two and a half years. He recalled Kaduna’s history as a textile hub dependent on cotton, adding that the state is now demonstrating new value addition across staple crops aligning with President Tinubu’s push for food sovereignty.
Minister of State for Agriculture, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, also commended Kaduna for surpassing the Malabo Declaration benchmark of allocating 10 per cent of its budget to agriculture. Governor Sani thanked the ministers for selecting Kaduna as host of the National Council of Agriculture and Food Security, describing the recognition as an honour that further validates the state’s leadership in agricultural expansion.
