Amid accusations of passing off the achievements of past administrations as its own, the Presidency has directly responded to recent remarks made by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso alleging marginalisation of Northern Nigeria under the current administration, telling him he is wrong in his assertions.
The Presidency presented a list of ongoing and completed federal projects across the northern region, many which observers say began long before President Bola Tinubu came into office.
According to one of the President’s spokesmen, Mr. Sunday Dare, contrary to Kwankwaso’s assertions, the Tinubu administration has, in less than two years, launched or continued a significant number of infrastructure, energy, health, transportation, and agricultural initiatives across the North—underscoring its strategic importance in national development.
Just a few days after a personal meeting with President Tinubu, Kwankwaso criticised his administration for what he described as an uneven allocation of federal resources, claiming that the North is being sidelined in favor of the South.
Speaking at the Kano State Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment on Thursday, Kwankwaso expressed concern over what he believes is a growing imbalance in the national budget.
“From what we’ve seen, most of the national budget appears to be concentrated in one direction,” said Kwankwaso, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of channeling disproportionate resources toward infrastructure projects in the South, while northern regions continue to suffer from underdevelopment, insecurity, and poor infrastructure.
“Those who are trying to corner everything should remember that some of the challenges we face here—like insecurity and poverty—are largely due to the lack of sufficient resources and the mismanagement of what little we get,” Kwankwaso said. “What affects one part of the country will eventually affect the rest.”
He recounted his recent road journey from Abuja to Kano, lamenting the poor state of highways in the North and citing delays in long-standing infrastructure projects.
“I was supposed to fly, but my airline rescheduled. So I had to travel by road—Abuja to Kaduna to Kano—and it was a nightmare. These are roads that have been under construction since the early days of APC’s rule,” he said.
Kwankwaso acknowledged the need for infrastructure development nationwide but called for a more balanced and inclusive approach.
“We support development projects in every part of the country. But when government concentrates federal resources in one region while leaving others behind, that’s not governance—it’s exclusion,” he said.
He urged President Tinubu to make changes to ensure fairer distribution of national resources, stressing that a united and balanced country benefits all.
“This is the time for the government to prove it represents all Nigerians—not just one side,” Kwankwaso concluded.
But Dare, in his social media post, said that the most visible federal interventions are the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of major highways critical to trade and national cohesion. These include:
• The Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Dual Carriageway
• Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway (including major portions across Kebbi and Sokoto)
• Kano–Kongolam Road, Zaria–Funtua–Gusau–Sokoto Dual Carriageway
• Dikwa–Gamboru–Ngala Road (a vital corridor in Borno State)
In addition, the Lafia Bypass (Nasarawa), Zaria–Hunkuyi–Daya Road (Kaduna/Kano), and the Adamawa–Taraba–Borno road links are receiving federal attention.
Agriculture and Environmental Protection
Also, Dare added, President Tinubu has rolled out transformative agricultural and environmental initiatives, including:
• A $158.15 million Agriculture Value Chain Development Programme spanning nine Northern states.
• The Kolmani Integrated Development Project (in Bauchi and Gombe), a major energy-agro-industrial initiative.
• The ACReSAL programme — a World Bank–funded six-year effort to restore degraded land and build climate resilience in Northern states.
• The revitalization of irrigation schemes like the Kano River Project, now operational.
Healthcare Expansion in the North
Healthcare investment under Tinubu has seen expansion and upgrades to numerous teaching hospitals and federal medical centres including:
• Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
• Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina
• University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Jos
• Federal Medical Centre, Nguru (Yobe)
• Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto
• Reinvigoration of 1,000 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) across the North
These facilities are intended to drastically improve health access and outcomes in the region.
Energy and Rail: Powering the North’s Future
Energy and transport projects are also in full swing, Dare said.
• The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, a 614-km artery of Nigeria’s future gas grid
• Gwagwalada Power Plant, directly benefiting the North Central zone
• ABIBA Solar Power Station, Kaduna — expanding renewable capacity
In the rail sector:
• Construction of the Kaduna–Kano Rail Line and the Kano–Maradi Rail Line
• ₦100 billion earmarked for the Kaduna Light Rail System
• Rehabilitation of the Abuja Metro Light Rail
National Programmes and Environmental Resilience
Federal institutions such as the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) are being retooled and funded to tackle desertification and ecological degradation—problems that uniquely impact the North.
According to the Presidency, the conclusion shows that the evidence is overwhelming that from energy to infrastructure, agriculture to healthcare, the breadth of investment under the Tinubu administration in Northern Nigeria cannot be overlooked. “While political criticism is expected, it must be grounded in facts. The evidence shows a region receiving unprecedented attention in less than two years of this administration.”
