The North East Caucus of the National Assembly has expressed deep concern over the exclusion of their region from the Federal Government’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program, despite its vast agricultural potential.
The SAPZ program, launched by Vice President Kashim Shettima on April 8, 2025, aims to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape through innovation, private-sector investments, and strategic public partnerships. The program has allocated $530 million for the development of agro-industrial hubs in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The North East region, comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states, has been conspicuously left out of the program. This is despite its significant contributions to the country’s agricultural sector, including livestock and crop growth, which account for a substantial portion of Nigeria’s economic well-being and GDP.
The National Assembly North East Caucus according to the text of their briefing e-sign by Chairman of the North East Caucus of the National Assembly, Senator Danjuma Goje (Sarkin Yakin Gombe) and made available to Pan Afric Reporters commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the SAPZ program however, expresses disappointment over the exclusion of the North East region and appeal for the immediate inclusion of region in the SAPZ program to promote fairness, inclusivity, and sustainable job creation.
The exclusion of the North East region from the SAPZ program has raised concerns about the potential impact on the local economy and the livelihoods of millions of people in the region.
The region’s agricultural sector is a significant contributor to Nigeria’s economy, and its exclusion from the program may exacerbate existing economic challenges. The caucus lamented.
The North East Caucus further vowed to continue advocating for the inclusion of their region in the SAPZ program. The outcome of their efforts remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the fate of millions of people in the North East region hangs in the balance.
Read full text of the Caucus below…
Being text of a press briefing by the National Assembly Caucus of the North East Geo-political Zone at the end of an emergency meeting over the exclusion of the North East in the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) of the Federal Government, held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Gentlemen of the Press, I welcome you all to this press briefing arising from the emergency meeting held by members of the National Assembly Caucus of the North East Geopolitical Zone, comprising all Senators and Members of the House of Representatives from the six states of our zone: 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.
The SAPZ Programme:
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.
Thank you.
Senator Danjuma Goje
Sarkin Yakin Gombe
Chairman of the North East Caucus of the National Assembly
