The North East Caucus of the National Assembly has opposed the exclusion of the zone from the $530 million Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) being implemented by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Caucus, which comprises all Senators and members of the House of Representatives from the six states in the zone, expressed that it was unacceptable to them that none of the states were included.
They have accordingly requested President Bola Tinubu to ensure the inclusion of the zone in the project.
This criticism followed an emergency meeting held at the Senate wing of the National Assembly by members of the Caucus, chaired by Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje.
Senator Goje lamented that despite the North East being the leading region in livestock and agriculture in the country, none of its six states were selected among the eight states where the special project is being implemented.
Briefing the newsmen at the end of the meeting, Senator Goje stated that the meeting was convened to express their grievances over the exclusion of the zone from the project.
“The emergency meeting held this Thursday by all the federal lawmakers from the North East geo-political zone, comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States, was convened following the exclusion of our zone from the all-important program of the Federal Government, the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), despite the enormous potential of our zone in all spheres of agriculture and livestock in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He further explained that, in view of the seriousness of this matter, the members of the caucus, although the parliament is on recess, cut short their holidays to attend this meeting and express their reservations about the exclusion of our region from the program.
Senator Goje stated that $530 million is to be provided by the Federal Government, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the SAPZ program.
He recalled that on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, in Kaduna State, flagged off the construction of Phase 1 of the SAPZ as part of the present administration’s plan to industrialise Nigeria’s agricultural sector and create sustainable jobs.
Goje assured that Seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been selected for the programme, the North West and South West have two processing zones each – Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, and Oyo states.
Also said the South South, South East and North Central have one processing zone each, however, despite the enormous agricultural potential, the North East is totally missing from the list of states allocated the processing zones.
The chairman of the caucus further stated that the SAPZ program is geared towards transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape through innovation, private-sector investments, and strategic public partnerships.
The zones are designed to create agro-industrial hubs that integrate farmers with processors, reduce post-harvest losses, and expand rural economic opportunities.
He argued that, geographically, the North East is the largest geopolitical zone in the nation, covering nearly one-third of Nigeria’s total area of 272,451 km² (105,194 sq mi). Therefore, the potential in all aspects of the agricultural sector cannot be overemphasized.
Senator Goje explained that at the end of the meeting, the caucus resolved to lament the exclusion of the North East Geopolitical Zone from the processing zones.
They also appealed for the immediate inclusion of the zone in the special program, not only for fairness and inclusivity but also for the realization of the lofty goals of the present administration to industrialize Nigeria’s agricultural sector and create sustainable jobs in the country.
Furthermore, they commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this program a reality.
REl/ Bashir
