North-East Lawmakers Decry Exclusion from Agro-Industrial Zones Project
Lawmakers from the North-East geopolitical zone in the national assembly have expressed strong dissatisfaction over the exclusion of their region from the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.
Speaking under the banner of the National Assembly Caucus of the North-East, the legislators voiced concerns that none of the six states in the region—Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Gombe—were included in the agricultural development initiative, despite the area’s vast potential.
The caucus leader, Senator Danjuma Goje, addressed journalists on Thursday following an emergency closed-door meeting at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Launched in 2022, the SAPZ programme aims to boost Nigeria’s agricultural sector through the establishment of agro-industrial hubs. It is backed by a $538 million funding package from partners including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Nigerian government.
The AfDB is the lead financier with a $210 million contribution, while the IsDB and IFAD have committed $310 million collectively. The Nigerian government has provided $18.05 million.
Vice President Kashim Shettima officially flagged off the project’s implementation on April 8 in Kaduna.
The first phase includes eight locations: Kaduna and Kano (North-West), Kwara and the FCT (North-Central), Ogun and Oyo (South-West), Cross River (South-South), and Imo (South-East).
These hubs are intended to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural value chain by addressing infrastructure gaps, improving market access, and enhancing value addition. The initiative is projected to cut annual post-harvest losses of over N3.5 trillion, create jobs, and boost food security.
Senator Goje, a former governor of Gombe State, lamented the exclusion of the North-East from the project.
“Despite our immense agricultural potential, the North-East is notably absent from the list of beneficiaries,” he said. “The region has a vast land area, a favourable climate, and plays a vital role in both livestock and crop production.”
He emphasized that the North-East is the largest geopolitical zone in Nigeria, occupying nearly one-third of the country’s landmass, and contributes significantly to national GDP through agriculture.
“This exclusion is troubling, especially since the SAPZ is considered a presidential priority and a solution to persistent challenges in agriculture,” he added.
The caucus called on the federal government and project partners to urgently reconsider and include the North-East in the SAPZ programme.
“We urge the immediate inclusion of our zone for fairness, inclusivity, and in line with the administration’s vision to industrialise agriculture and create sustainable employment,” Goje concluded.