The North East Caucus of the National Assembly has demanded inclusion and a fair share to North East geopolitical zone to the Federal Government’s flagship initiative—the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.
The lawmakers reaction was sequel to the region’s exclusion without recourse to the consideration of the region’s vast potential in agriculture and livestock, the statement signed by the Chairman, North East Caucus, National Assembly, Senator Danjuma Goje on Thursday said.
Despite the National Assembly being on recess, members of the North East Caucus interrupted their holidays to attend the urgent meeting and collectively express their disappointment over the omission. The lawmakers highlighted that the North East, which spans nearly one-third of Nigeria’s landmass and boasts rich agricultural resources, has been unjustly sidelined.
Precise Post recalls that the SAPZ programme, launched by Vice President Kashim Shettima on April 8, 2025, in Kaduna State, is a strategic initiative by the current administration aimed at revolutionising Nigeria’s agricultural sector. With $530 million in funding from the Federal Government, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the project is positioned as a “presidential priority.”
The programme will establish agro-industrial hubs in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Specifically, the North West (Kaduna, Kano) and South West (Ogun, Oyo) have each been allocated two zones, while the South South, South East, and North Central have one each. However, the North East has been completely excluded—despite its reputation as a critical contributor to Nigeria’s food supply and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
These agro-industrial zones are designed to integrate farmers with processors, minimize post-harvest losses, promote rural development, and attract private investment into agriculture.
According to the statement, the North East Caucus expressed deep disappointment over the omission and emphasized that the region’s contribution to national food security and economic growth cannot be ignored. The lawmakers described the SAPZ initiative as pivotal to addressing key issues in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain—issues that the North East is well positioned to help resolve.
Though the caucus commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for bringing the SAPZ programme to life and for his administration’s commitment to agricultural industrialisation, but it lamented the unjust exclusion of the North East from the SAPZ initiative, despite its agricultural significance and size.
The North East Caucus further urged the Federal Government to immediately include the North East zone in the programme to ensure fairness, regional balance, and alignment with the administration’s goals of sustainable job creation and national agricultural development.
