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Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Cotonou, the capital of the Republic of Benin, to strengthen the country’s implementation of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme through regional collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The Vice President, in a post shared on X on Thursday, said the visit will enable Nigeria to draw lessons from neighbouring countries as the government advances its agricultural transformation agenda.
On arrival, Shettima was received by the Republic of Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Corinne Amori Brunet, and the country’s Minister of Tourism and External Trade, Shegun Bakari.
The SAPZ Programme is a flagship Nigerian Government initiative designed to boost agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, attract private sector investment into agro-processing, create jobs and improve food security by developing integrated agro-industrial hubs across participating states.
Accompanying the Vice President are the governors of Kwara, Imo, Jigawa, Plateau, Katsina and Zamfara states.
Also on the delegation are the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and other senior Nigerian Government officials.
Shortly after his arrival, Shettima convened a strategy meeting with members of the Nigerian delegation.
The Vice President, Senator @KashimSM, has arrived in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, on a high-level working visit.
On arrival, the Vice President was received by the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Corinne Amori Brunet, and the Minister of Tourism and External Trade,… pic.twitter.com/3lgVAu55S7
— Senator Kashim Shettima (@officialSKSM) July 23, 2026
