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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Federal Government has dismissed claims by the National Assembly North-East Caucus that it excluded the region from the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, clarified that not only is the North-East included, but some of its states are already participating in the second phase of the programme.
Kyari reiterated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was centred on inclusivity and national integration.
The minister explained that the SAPZ programme, launched in 2022, began with Phase 1 selection based on an eligibility process, adding that eight states qualified, including Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to him, the selection process was based on states expressing interest and meeting the eligibility criteria after verification by a joint federal team and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
He said: “It is crucial to correct the misconception that the North-East was excluded. Inclusivity is at the core of this administration, and all stakeholders are carried along in designing and implementing development programs. The recent ceremonies simply mark visible progress, not a final list of beneficiaries.
“States have to express interest and meet specific requirements. Some states have not done so,” he said.
In addition, he disclosed that Phase 2 of the SAPZ programme is already underway, with 27 states submitting expressions of interest, adding that of this number, 10 states including Gombe, Borno, and Bauchi States, respectively from the Northeast, met the eligibility criteria and are set to benefit from the first tranche of Phase 2 onboarding.
“This proves that the North-East is not only included but actively participating in the SAPZ expansion,” he said.
