Senators and members of the House of Representatives from the North East have called on the federal government to include states in the region in the recently launched $530 million Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.
Chairman of the North East National Assembly Caucus, Senator Danjuma Goje, made the appeal during a press briefing in Abuja.
The appeal follows the flag-off of Phase 1 of the SAPZ programme earlier this week in Kaduna by Vice President Kashim Shettima. The initiative aims to industrialise Nigeria’s agricultural sector and create sustainable jobs.
Currently, seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are included in the pilot phase. The North West and South West zones have two zones each—Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, and Oyo—while the South South, South East, and North Central have one zone each.
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the programme, Senator Goje expressed disappointment over the exclusion of the North East from the initial rollout, despite the region’s agricultural potential and need for development support.
Goje said the lawmakers from the North East decided to cut short their break to make the address because of the seriousness they attach to the issue.
He said the briefing arose from the emergency meeting held by members of the caucus comprising all Senators and Members of the House of Representatives from the six states of the zone, namely, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe.
“The emergency meeting was convened sequel to the exclusion of our zone from the all-important programme 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 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In view of the seriousness of this matter, the members of our caucus, even though the parliament is on recess, cut short their holidays to attend this meeting and express our reservations about our region’s exclusion from the programme,” he said.
On the non-inclusion of states in the North East in the SAPZ Programme, Goje said: “For a start, $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 programme.
“On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, His Excellency, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, GCON, 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.
“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.
“The South-South, South East and North Central have one processing zone each.
“Despite its enormous agricultural potential, the North East is conspicuously missing from the list of states allocated the processing zones.
“SAPZs aim to transform Nigeria’s agriculture 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.
“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 (105,194sq mi). Our potential in all aspects of the agricultural sector cannot be overemphasised.
“Our region, the North East, is known for its enormous livestock and crop growth, contributing significantly to our country’s economic well-being and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“It is against this backdrop that we are extremely worried that our zone is excluded from the SAPZ programme, regarded as a ‘presidential priority project’ and a direct response to the longstanding challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, including poor infrastructure, limited access to markets, and low-value addition.
“At the end of the meeting, we resolved as follows: Commend the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for making this programme a reality.
“According to the President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, agro-industrial zones began during his tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture over a decade ago.
“Lament the exclusion of the North East Geopolitical Zone from the processing zones despite its enormous agricultural potential cutting across all sector value chains.
“Appeal for the immediate inclusion of the North East Geo-political Zone in the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ). This is not only for fairness and inclusivity but for the actualisation of the lofty ideals of the present administration to industrialise Nigeria’s agricultural sector and create sustainable jobs in the country.”
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