ABUJA— The Presidency has strongly denied recent claims by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is marginalising Northern Nigeria in terms of infrastructure and resource allocation.
Kwankwaso made the allegations on Thursday during a stakeholders’ dialogue on the 2025 constitutional amendment in Kano. He accused the federal government of favouring the southern region while neglecting the North, leading to worsening poverty and insecurity. The former governor of Kano State decried the poor condition of roads in the region, narrating a distressing road trip from Abuja to Kano after his flight was cancelled. He described the journey through Kaduna as “hell,” attributing the experience to the state of federal infrastructure in northern Nigeria.
In response, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the allegations were misleading and failed to reflect the reality of the Tinubu administration’s efforts in the region. In a statement posted on his official X account on Friday, Dare described Kwankwaso’s comments as “incorrect,” and outlined a range of ongoing federal projects and programmes in Northern Nigeria.
According to Dare, President Tinubu’s administration has made significant investments in roads, agriculture, healthcare, and energy across northern states. He said major highway construction and rehabilitation projects are currently underway, including the Abuja,Kaduna,Kano Expressway, the Kano Kongolam Road, and the Kano Maiduguri Dual Carriageway. Other important road links, such as the Kaduna Jos corridor and routes in Borno and Adamawa, are also being rehabilitated.
In the energy sector, Dare pointed to the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta,Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline and the construction of the Gwagwalada Power Plant, as well as new solar power projects in Kaduna State. He added that the administration is advancing key railway infrastructure, such as the Kaduna–Kano and Kano–Maradi rail lines, alongside the rehabilitation of the Abuja Metro.
Dare also highlighted the government’s push in agriculture through a $158.15 million Agriculture Value Chain Development Programme covering nine northern states. Additionally, he cited the Kolmani Integrated Development Project located in Bauchi and Gombe States and the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, which aims to restore over one million hectares of degraded land.
On healthcare, Dare said the administration is investing in facilities such as Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, and the Federal Medical Centre in Nguru. He noted that more than 1,000 primary health centres across the region are undergoing revitalisation.
“The claim that Northern Nigeria has been left behind is incorrect,” Dare stated. “From road networks to gas pipelines, agriculture, health, and rail, this administration has the North well covered.”
The rebuttal comes amid growing political debates over equitable development and resource allocation in Nigeria, with regional leaders increasingly vocal about perceived disparities. While Kwankwaso’s remarks reflect concerns from parts of the North, the Presidency’s response underscores its determination to defend President Tinubu’s developmental record.
About The Author
