North East Lawmakers Decry Exclusion from Federal Agro-Processing Zones

The North East National Assembly caucus protested the alleged exclusion of the region from the Federal Government’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative.

The lawmakers claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has overlooked the North East in the allocation of these crucial economic development zones.

In a statement released today, the caucus expressed concern and disappointment over what they perceive as a significant denial of zonal intervention.

They asserted that the SAPZ program, designed to boost agricultural value chains and stimulate industrial growth, holds immense potential for the North East, a region grappling with economic challenges and security concerns.

“We cannot remain silent while our zone is being deprived of an intervention of this magnitude,” a spokesperson for the caucus stated. “The North East, with its vast agricultural potential, deserves to be a key beneficiary of the SAPZ initiative. The exclusion is not only unjust but also detrimental to the region’s economic recovery and long-term development.”

The lawmakers emphasized the importance of equitable distribution of federal projects and resources across all geopolitical zones. They called on the Federal Government to reconsider its decision and ensure the inclusion of the North East in the SAPZ program.

The SAPZ initiative aims to establish agro-processing hubs that integrate production, processing, and marketing of agricultural commodities, thereby creating jobs, enhancing food security, and driving economic diversification. The exclusion of the North East has raised questions about the government’s commitment to addressing the region’s unique challenges and fostering inclusive growth.

The caucus has promised to follow up on this issue with the executive branch of government.