Governor Bala Mohammed says the state is ready to tick every global box to unlock a massive agriculture investment.
Bala Mohammed has reaffirmed Bauchi’s commitment to meeting all international standards required to secure a proposed $200 million agro-industrial investment backed by the Islamic Development Bank and other partners.
Speaking while receiving the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) mission in Bauchi, the governor said the state is strengthening its engineering, technical and feasibility teams to ensure full compliance with global benchmarks similar to those of the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
Agriculture, he stressed, remains the backbone of Bauchi’s economy — with vast arable land and strong output in rice, cassava and sesame. While the state hosts some of the region’s largest rice mills, Mohammed admitted Bauchi has yet to fully tap into the sesame value chain despite large exports.
The goal? Shift from subsistence farming to mechanised, science-driven agriculture powered by private sector investment.
SAPZ mission lead Dr. Chuma Ezedinma said the $200m project spans eight states but hinges on strict regulatory and documentation requirements — including publishing Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) reports at least 120 days before board presentation.
The pre-appraisal mission is part of preparations ahead of expected board consideration before Q3 2026.
If approved, the investment could reshape Bauchi’s agro-industrial landscape.
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