Lawmakers under the aegis of the National Assembly North East Caucus have expressed deep concern over the exclusion of their region from the Federal Government’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) project, a $530 million initiative designed to revolutionise Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
At a press briefing held on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, the Caucus comprisiing Senators and Members of the House of Representatives from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States called for the urgent inclusion of the North East in the programme, described the exclusion as unfair and a major oversight.
The SAPZ programme, jointly funded by the Federal Government, African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), aimed to create agro-industrial hubs to boost food processing, reduce post-harvest losses, expand rural economic opportunities, and create sustainable jobs.
The Caucus argued that despite the North East’s vast agricultural potential, including significant contributions to Nigeria’s livestock and crop production, the region was left out of the initial beneficiaries.
Currently, seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been selected with the North West and South West having two processing zones each (Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, and Oyo), while the South South, South East, and North Central got one zone each.
Speaking on behalf of the Caucus, Senator Danjuma Goje, Sarkin Yakin Gombe and Chairman of the National Assembly North East Caucus, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for making the programme a reality, but strongly criticized the exclusion of the region from what he described as a “presidential priority project.”
“Our region, the North East, is the largest geopolitical zone in Nigeria by landmass and is a key player in agriculture and livestock. This omission is a major concern and contradicts the vision of inclusive national development,” Senator Goje stated.
The Caucus called for the immediate reconsideration and inclusion of the North East in the SAPZ programme, stressed that doing so is essential for equity, fairness, and the realisation of the administration’s goal to industrialise agriculture and create widespread employment.
They warned that failure to include the region could widen regional disparities and further alienate communities already facing developmental challenges.
The lawmakers therefore reiterated their full support for the government’s agricultural agenda but emphasized that no part of the country should be left behind in the drive toward sustainable economic transformation.
