In a statement released on Saturday, the federal government dismissed allegations that the North-East region was left out of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, labeling the claims as 'misplaced' and 'inaccurate.'
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, addressed the media in Abuja following concerns raised by the North-East National Assembly caucus. He emphasized that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu is committed to inclusivity and national equity.
Kyari explained that the SAPZ initiative, originally conceptualized in 2019 and launched in 2022, initially identified eight locations based on specific eligibility criteria. These locations include Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Under the Tinubu administration, however, Kyari noted that the programme is expanding to include more states, with ongoing efforts to ensure all states are eventually incorporated. “Let me state unequivocally that no state is being left behind. Phase 2 of the programme has commenced, and we have received expressions of interest from 27 states. Of these, 10 have met the eligibility requirements, including Gombe, Borno, and Bauchi from the North-East,” he stated.
Kyari urged governors from Taraba, Yobe, and Adamawa to actively pursue participation in order to meet the eligibility criteria for the next phase of funding.
To counter claims of marginalization, the minister also highlighted a number of federal agricultural initiatives ongoing in the North-East. These include supporting over 8,000 wheat farmers in Gombe State, developing irrigation infrastructure in Bauchi State through the NASENI-backed Irrigate Nigeria project, as well as empowerment initiatives and ecological restoration efforts in Adamawa State in collaboration with the World Bank.
Furthermore, Kyari pointed out initiatives like the deployment of solar-powered infrastructure, the upcoming introduction of a soil health card scheme, and the forthcoming value-chain North project designed to benefit 456,000 farmers in the region.
“These projects are not mere tokens; they are targeted, results-driven interventions aimed at cultivating a more resilient, productive, and inclusive agricultural landscape," he said. "Our mission spans from the North-East plains to the South-South riverine areas, focusing on shared prosperity and food security for all Nigerians."
Kyari concluded by emphasizing that the SAPZ programme is designed to benefit everyone in the country and that every state will be incorporated into the initiative. He also mentioned the recently signed Green Imperative Project, which will establish agricultural mechanization service centers in all 774 local government areas of Nigeria, aiming to boost the agricultural sector nationwide.
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