The Presidency has forcefully responded to claims by former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is neglecting Northern Nigeria in terms of development and resource allocation.
In a strongly worded rebuttal posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Sunday Dare, spokesperson to President Tinubu and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development under the Buhari administration, described Kwankwaso’s remarks as “inaccurate and misinformed.” He insisted that the North remains a central focus of the current government’s development agenda.
“Senator Kwankwaso. You are wrong. North not neglected,” Dare stated. “President Tinubu has the North covered. Northern Nigeria is not left behind.”
Kwankwaso had earlier accused the Tinubu administration of concentrating federal resources in one region at the expense of others, stating that the mismanagement of national resources was exacerbating poverty and insecurity in the North.
In direct response, Dare released an extensive list of 43 federal projects and initiatives currently ongoing across northern states. These projects span critical sectors such as infrastructure, energy, healthcare, agriculture, and transportation.
Key Projects Highlighted:
Infrastructure:
- Ongoing construction and rehabilitation of major expressways, including:
- Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway
- Sokoto–Badagry Expressway
- Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina Road Corridor
Agriculture:
- $158.15 million Value Chain North (VCN) programme across nine northern states
- Kolmani Integrated Development Project in Bauchi and Gombe
- ACReSAL climate resilience initiative, funded by the World Bank
- Ongoing Kano River Project for large-scale irrigation, commissioned in 2023
Healthcare:
- Revitalisation efforts at:
- Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
- Jos University Teaching Hospital
- Over 1,000 primary healthcare centres across the North
Energy:
- Construction of the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline
- Development of Gwagwalada Power Plant
- Expansion of solar power initiatives in Kaduna, aimed at boosting regional energy capacity
Transportation:
- Kaduna–Kano and Kano–Maradi rail projects
- ₦100 billion allocated for the Kaduna Light Rail system
- Ongoing rehabilitation of the Abuja Metro Line
Dare emphasized that these accomplishments have occurred within the first two years of President Tinubu’s tenure and reflect a clear commitment to balanced national development.
Additional Regional Initiatives:
Dare also cited environmental and trade development programmes such as:
- Trans-Sahara Trade Corridor
- Great Green Wall initiative
- NEWMAP erosion control and watershed management efforts
The exchange between Kwankwaso and the Presidency has stirred significant debate on social media and within political circles. While Kwankwaso’s remarks tapped into long-standing concerns about regional inequality, Dare’s comprehensive counterpoint aims to affirm the Tinubu administration’s record of inclusive governance and northern investment.
Observers continue to dissect the merits of both positions, but the Presidency’s detailed response appears designed to solidify public perception of the North as a priority zone in Nigeria’s ongoing development trajectory.
