Lawmakers from the North-East geopolitical zone have expressed strong dissatisfaction over the exclusion of their region from the Federal Government’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.

The SAPZ programme, backed by a $530 million partnership involving the Federal Government, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and IFAD, was launched to transform Nigeria’s agriculture sector and boost job creation.

Phase 1 of the project was flagged off by Vice President Kashim Shettima in Kaduna earlier this week, covering seven states and the FCT.

Notably, the North West and South West have two zones each, while the South East, South South, and North Central got one each—leaving out the North East entirely.

Speaking at a Press briefing yesterday, the caucus—which includes all Senators and Representatives from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States led by its Chairman, Senator Danjuma Goje, commended President Bola Tinubu for the initiative but called for the immediate inclusion of the North East in the SAPZ programme.

Our Correspondent, Raliat Adenekan reports that House Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa Jese fielding questions from journalists, noted that the grievances voiced by the caucus are rooted in a genuine concern for the well-being of their constituents, and re-echoed the concerns raised by Senator Ali Ndume, on the supposed lopsided nature of federal appointments.

READ ANOTHER STORY HERE: https://classic94.fm/nbc-bans-tell-your-papa-by-eedris-abdulkareem/