The Presidency has strongly refuted recent accusations made by former Kano State Governor and presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, alleging that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has sidelined Northern Nigeria in its national development efforts.
Kwankwaso blamed the worsening poverty and insecurity—particularly in Northern Nigeria—on the persistent mismanagement of resources at all tiers of government.
According to him, the root of Nigeria’s current challenges, especially in the northern region, lies in the irresponsible handling of public funds by leaders at the national, state, and local government levels.
“I believe the issues we face today in this country, particularly in this part of the country, have to do with the mismanagement of resources by leaders at the national and state levels, and even at local government levels,” he stated.
To illustrate the level of infrastructural neglect in the North, the former governor shared his personal experience while attempting to travel.
“Yesterday, I was supposed to travel by air. Unfortunately, my airline delayed our departure from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., so I had to go by road,” he explained.
“From Abuja to Kaduna to Kano, the road was terrible—very bad. This is a road that was started many years ago, right from the beginning of APC’s leadership.”
“This is the time for the government to change, to convince our people that the government is not just on one side of the country,” he added.
In a detailed response issued on Friday, the Presidency described Kwankwaso’s assertions as “unfounded, misleading, and politically motivated.” It emphasized that the North has not only received considerable federal attention but remains a strategic priority in President Tinubu’s development blueprint.
Reacting through a senior presidential aide and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account @SundayDareSD, the Presidency said that in just two years, the administration has rolled out transformative, large-scale projects across multiple sectors in the North, including infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, energy, education, and transportation.
“The facts speak for themselves,” the statement read. “The North is not just included in President Tinubu’s vision — it is central to it.”
The government noted that strategic road and highway projects have been prioritized to improve connectivity, trade, and movement across the Northern region. Some of the flagship projects highlighted include:
Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway (375 km)
Kano–Kongolam Road
Zaria–Funtua–Gusau–Sokoto Dual Carriageway
Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway (1,068 km) — a major economic corridor
Kano–Maiduguri Dual Carriageway
Zaria–Hunkuyi–Daya Road (152.67 km) in Kaduna and Kano States
Lafia Bypass Road in Nasarawa State
Malando–Ngaski–Wara Road
Dikwa–Gamboru–Ngala Road in Borno State — serving as an international trade corridor
Acknowledging Northern Nigeria’s vital role in ensuring national food security, the Presidency outlined a range of agricultural development initiatives launched under the Tinubu administration, including:
$158.15 million Agriculture Value Chain Development Programme across nine northern states
Kolmani Integrated Development Project — an energy and industrial hub spanning Bauchi and Gombe States
Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) — a $700 million World Bank-backed initiative to restore one million hectares of degraded land and mitigate climate risks
Revival of the Kano River Irrigation Project to enhance commercial-scale farming
The administration has also undertaken extensive upgrades and expansions in the health sector across the North. Federal medical facilities that have benefitted include:
Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina
University of Jos Teaching Hospital (expansion)
Reference Hospital, Kaduna
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi
Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State
In addition, over 1,000 Primary Healthcare Centres have been revitalised across various northern states to ensure grassroots health coverage.
Highlighting progress in the energy sector, the Presidency cited major projects aimed at improving power supply and industrial growth in the North:
Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline (614 km) — Nigeria’s most strategic gas infrastructure
Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant, Abuja, directly linked to the AKK pipeline
ABIBA Solar Power Project (50 MW) in Kaduna — supporting renewable energy expansion
To boost transportation and trade, several rail projects have been initiated or accelerated, including:
Kaduna–Kano Standard Gauge Railway (203 km) — part of the Lagos–Kano rail corridor
Kano–Maradi Railway (285 km) — linking Kano to Niger Republic for cross-border trade
₦100 billion Kaduna Light Rail Project — enhancing urban mobility
Rehabilitation of the Abuja Metro Line — restoring intra-city metro services
In a bid to enhance national and regional integration, the Tinubu administration is also advancing:
The Trans-Sahara Trade Corridor, connecting Calabar to Kano through Abuja and Nasarawa, with links to North Africa
Development of Inland Dry Ports and River Ports across Northern states to support agricultural exports and industrial logistics
In response to the region’s vulnerability to climate change, the government is implementing environmental interventions such as:
Reinvigoration of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) — focused on afforestation and desertification control
Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) — addressing erosion and flood risks in sensitive areas
Concluding the statement, the Presidency reiterated that many of these projects — long abandoned or delayed — are now being completed or fast-tracked under President Tinubu’s leadership.
“It is simply incorrect and politically expedient for anyone to claim the North is being neglected,” the statement said. “This administration is building a Nigeria that works for all — North, South, East, and West.”
It added that President Tinubu remains committed to equitable, inclusive governance that transcends regional, ethnic, or political affiliations — a hallmark of his leadership style.
“What the North has received under this administration within just two years is unprecedented in scope and impact. The progress is not only visible but measurable,” the Presidency affirmed.
