Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive agricultural development across all regions of the country.
Speaking during a press briefing on Saturday, Kyari dispelled recent claims by the National Assembly’s North-East Caucus alleging the region’s exclusion from the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme.
He clarified that the SAPZ initiative, a flagship intervention of the Federal Government aimed at boosting agro-industrial capacity, is being implemented in phases based on expressed interest from states and their ability to meet laid-down eligibility benchmarks, adding that no part of the country is being left behind.
According to the Minister, contrary to the impression created by the North-East Caucus, three states from the region — Borno, Gombe, and Bauchi — have already met the criteria and are included in the first tranche of the programme’s second phase.
He revealed that 27 states submitted Expressions of Interest for the current phase, but only 10 fulfilled the eligibility requirements, including the aforementioned North-East states.
Kyari emphasized that the SAPZ programme remains open to all states, including those yet to qualify. He urged the leadership of Taraba, Yobe, and Adamawa states to fast-track their engagement with the Ministry to ensure their inclusion in subsequent tranches.
“We call on lawmakers from the region to encourage their respective state governments to participate actively and meet the criteria. The doors remain open,” he said.
Highlighting the ongoing support and developmental strides in the region, the Minister pointed to several projects already underway. In Gombe State, more than 8,000 wheat farmers have received subsidized input packages to boost dry season farming.
Similarly, in Bauchi State, collaboration with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) on the “Irrigate Nigeria” initiative is enabling large-scale irrigation, targeting over 3 million hectares of arable land.
In Adamawa State, Kyari noted, the Federal Government recently commissioned 120 housing units alongside a Farmer Empowerment Centre aimed at uplifting smallholder farmers and rebuilding rural livelihoods.
The Minister further highlighted the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, developed in partnership with the World Bank.
Designed to enhance climate resilience and restore degraded landscapes in northern Nigeria, ACReSAL is on track to recover one million hectares of land by 2028. Gombe State, in particular, has already demonstrated strong commitment by providing counterpart funding for the initiative.
Kyari also spoke on innovative strategies being implemented in the North-East to modernize the agricultural ecosystem and enhance productivity.
He noted that solar-powered infrastructure and electric vehicles are being introduced in the region as part of a broader drive toward green innovation and sustainable transport.
Kyari further revealed the VALUE-CHAIN – NORTH PROJECT, a new food security programme co-financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which is designed to support 456,000 farmers, with a special focus on beneficiaries in the North-East region.
“These are not mere gestures; they are part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance food production, empower local farmers, and build a resilient agricultural economy,” Kyari stressed.
He concluded by assuring Nigerians that the SAPZ programme and other agricultural reforms under the Tinubu administration are designed to serve every corner of the country.
From the fertile lands of the North-Central and the cocoa belts of the South-West to the water-rich areas of the South-South and the rugged terrains of the North-East, he affirmed that the government’s agricultural transformation agenda is inclusive and far-reaching.
Kyari also referenced the recently signed Green Imperative Project (GIP), which promises to deliver agricultural mechanization services across all 774 local government areas, as further evidence of the Federal Government’s resolve to revolutionize agriculture in every part of the federation.
“We are building a food-secure, economically vibrant Nigeria where every state has a role to play. We will continue to engage, we will continue to listen, and most importantly, we will continue to deliver,” he concluded.
