Presidency counters Kwankwaso’s claims of southern bias in federal projects
President Bola Tinubu
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Presidency has denied allegations by former Kano State Governor and 2023 NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, that the Tinubu administration is prioritising federal projects in the South to the detriment of the North.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, in a statement on Friday, described Kwankwaso’s claims as unfounded.
He emphasised that Northern Nigeria has seen substantial investment under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, with projects spanning key sectors including transportation, energy, healthcare, agriculture, and education.
“Senator Kwankwaso. You are wrong. North not neglected. President Tinubu has the North covered,” Dare declared.
Among the major infrastructure projects cited are key expressways, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina, and sections of the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway. Roads connecting major northern towns like Zaria, Funtua, Gusau, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Lafia, and Gaya are also either under construction or undergoing rehabilitation.
In the agriculture sector, the government highlighted the $158.15 million Agriculture Value Chain Programme spanning nine northern states, the Kolmani Integrated Development Project in Bauchi and Gombe, and the World Bank–supported Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) initiative. Also mentioned was the Kano River Irrigation Project, which became fully operational in 2023 under the current administration.
The health sector was another key focus, with ongoing improvements in teaching hospitals and diagnostic centres in cities such as Zaria, Jos, Katsina, Sokoto, Ilorin, Bauchi, and Yobe. Additionally, over 1,000 primary health centres across the North are being upgraded under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Energy and power initiatives include the 614km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, the Gwagwalada Power Plant in the Federal Capital Territory, and the planned 50MW ABIBA Solar Power Station in Kaduna.
In terms of rail and transport, projects such as the 203km Kaduna–Kano rail line, the 285km Kano–Maradi railway, and a ₦100 billion allocation for the Kaduna Light Rail System were cited.
The Abuja Metro Line rehabilitation and the development of inland trade routes through the Trans-Sahara Trade Corridor, linking Calabar through Nasarawa to the North, were also highlighted.
The presidency further pointed to environmental and ecological interventions through agencies like the revitalised National Agency for the Great Green Wall and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), both addressing challenges specific to Northern Nigeria.
“These are just samplers — tangible evidence of a government actively developing all regions without bias,” the presidential aide added.
The statement concluded with a pointed reminder that all the listed projects have either commenced or progressed significantly within the first two years of President Tinubu’s tenure.
