News in brief:
– Lawmakers from the North-East are urging the Nigerian government to include the region in the $530m agricultural development project.
– They argue the region’s vast agricultural potential makes its exclusion from the agro-industrial zones unfair.
Lawmakers from the North-East have called on the Federal Government to include the region in the recently launched $530 million Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.
The call was made during a press briefing in Abuja by the Chairman of the North-East National Assembly Caucus, Senator Danjuma Goje, following the flag-off of Phase 1 of the programme in Kaduna by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
SAPZ phase 1 leaves out the North-East
Vice President Kashim Shettima officially launched the SAPZ Phase 1 earlier this week in Kaduna. The programme, backed by the Federal Government, African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), currently includes seven states and the FCT.
Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Imo, and Kwara were selected for the pilot phase, with the North-West and South-West receiving two zones each. However, no state from the Northeast was included.
Senator Goje said members of the North-East caucus, comprising Senators and Representatives from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States, had to suspend their recess due to the urgency of the matter.
“The emergency meeting was convened sequel to the exclusion of our zone from the all-important programme… despite the enormous potential of our zone in all spheres of agriculture and livestock,” Goje stated.
He further noted that the $530 million project is funded by the Federal Government in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Highlighting the region’s contributions to national food security, the lawmakers described the exclusion as unjustifiable. The North East is Nigeria’s largest geopolitical zone by landmass and a key producer of livestock and food crops that boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Our region is known for its enormous livestock and crop growth. The exclusion is worrisome and contradicts the goal of fair development,” Goje added.
At the end of their meeting, the North-East lawmakers resolved to:
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Commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the SAPZ programme.
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Appeal for the immediate inclusion of the North East geopolitical zone.
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Emphasise the importance of fairness, equity, and inclusivity in national development initiatives.
They stressed that adding the North East to the SAPZ would align with the administration’s commitment to job creation and agricultural industrialisation across Nigeria.
“We believe inclusion of our region is critical to the success and credibility of the SAPZ,” they concluded.
