Leadnaija
The North East Caucus of the National Assembly held a press conference today at the National Assembly Complex, expressing strong dissatisfaction over the exclusion of the North East region from the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative.
The SAPZ is a major agricultural development program valued at $530 million, jointly financed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program aims to boost agro-industrial activities across selected regions in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the Caucus, Senator Danjuma Goje, a former governor of Gombe State, highlighted the strategic importance of the North East zone, which he described as the largest geopolitical region in the country. “The North East occupies nearly one-third of Nigeria’s landmass — approximately 272,451 square kilometers. Our region holds immense potential in agriculture, and it is unacceptable that it has been sidelined from such a transformative initiative,” Goje stated.
The lawmakers called on relevant stakeholders and implementing agencies to review the selection criteria for the SAPZ and ensure equitable representation of all regions, especially those with substantial agricultural resources like the North East.
The press conference ended with a call for immediate engagement with the Federal Government and development partners to address what the Caucus termed a “glaring oversight.”
