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By Daniel Adaji
The Federal Government has called on governors in the North-East region to take proactive steps toward meeting the eligibility requirements for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme, amid criticism from the region’s National Assembly Caucus alleging exclusion from the initiative.
The North-East Caucus of the National Assembly on Thursday criticized the region’s exclusion from the Federal Government’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, calling it unjust for Nigeria’s top livestock hub.
Lawmakers from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the interest of fairness and equity.
They made the appeal at the end of an emergency closed-door meeting held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Responding to the concerns, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security emphasized that the SAPZ is not an exclusive initiative, but rather a phased, inclusive program rooted in the administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which prioritizes national integration and equity in development.
Addressing journalists on Saturday, the Minister, Abubakar Kyari stated, “Our attention has been drawn to concerns that the North-East was excluded completely from the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) program of the Federal Government,” the Minister stated.
“Considering the basic fact that this concern is coming from members of the National Assembly Caucus of the North-East, it becomes very imperative that we set the record straight because they got it all wrong,” he said.
The SAPZ programme, launched in 2022 and designed in 2019, is a state-led initiative supported by the Federal Government and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The programme’s model requires state governments to express interest and meet specific eligibility criteria to qualify for onboarding.
“The SAPZ is a Subsidiary Loan Agreement Programme,” the Ministry clarified.
“This means that the Federal Government onboards the obtained loans to the state for the implementation of the program. Considering this is a loan, it is solely the discretion of the state to participate or not, and we have cases where states have not expressed interest,” Kyari stated.
In its most recent phase, the programme has seen a surge of interest.
“We have received Expression of Interest from 27 states but only 10 states fully complied with the eligibility criteria which includes three States from the North-East namely Gombe, Borno and Bauchi States for the first tranche of Phase 2,” he said.
Reacting to the sweeping claim of exclusion, the Minister emphasized that, “the statement by the Caucus that ‘the North East was completely excluded’ is not correct.”
To ensure broader participation, the Federal Government is now appealing directly to governors in the remaining North-East states—Taraba, Yobe, and Adamawa—to expedite their efforts to join the program.
“I therefore also want to appeal to the legislators especially the North-East NASS Caucus to appeal to the other governors of the North-East namely Taraba, Yobe and Adamawa to reinvigorate their interest in the Program and to ensure they fulfil the eligibility criteria for the second phase,” the Minister urged.
The government also pointed to various ongoing projects and investments in the region to debunk the narrative of marginalization. These include:
In Gombe State, over 8,000 wheat farmers have benefitted from subsidized inputs.
In Bauchi State, the Federal Government is working with NASENI on the “Irrigate Nigeria” project, targeting 3 million hectares of irrigated farmland.
In Adamawa State, 120 housing units and a Farmer Empowerment Centre have been commissioned.
Through the World Bank-supported ACReSAL project, the government is restoring degraded lands and enhancing climate resilience in Northern Nigeria, with Gombe State already committing counterpart funding.
Electric vehicles and solar-powered infrastructure are being deployed in the region to modernize transportation and reduce emissions.
Soil testing laboratories are being established under the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Card Scheme, which provides tailored soil and fertilizer information to farmers.
An upcoming food security project co-financed by IFAD — known as the VALUE-CHAIN – NORTH PROJECT — is targeting 456,000 farmers in the region.
“These are not symbolic projects; they are deliberate, results-oriented interventions designed to build a more resilient, productive, and inclusive agricultural economy,” he said.
Reaffirming his commitment, Kyari stated, “From the plains of the North-East to the riverine belts of the South-South, and from the cocoa-rich soils of the South-West to the food baskets of the North-Central, our agenda is one of shared prosperity, food security, and national development as envisioned by the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.”
He assured that the SAPZ programme will eventually include every state in Nigeria.
“We have heard the statements of the representatives of the North-East and we assure you all that the SAPZ Programme is for all Nigerians and every State of the Federation will be brought on board,” he said.