The Presidency has issued a strong rebuttal to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s recent allegations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is marginalising Northern Nigeria in the allocation of federal resources. Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), had accused the government of disproportionately channeling national funds toward the southern region, where the President hails from, resulting in poverty, insecurity, and underdevelopment in the North.
Kwankwaso vs Presidency: The Federal Projects Dispute
Kwankwaso raised these concerns during a stakeholders’ dialogue on the 2025 constitutional amendment held in Kano. He lamented the poor state of federal roads in the North, recounting a recent arduous road journey from Abuja to Kano that underscored what he described as long-standing neglect by successive administrations.
“From the information available to us, most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction,” Kwankwaso stated, warning that this imbalance fuels insecurity and poverty that could spread nationwide if left unchecked.
In response, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, challenged the claims, asserting that the Tinubu administration has launched and continued numerous landmark projects across Northern Nigeria.
“The claim that Northern Nigeria has been left behind is incorrect,” Dare said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to equitable development. “From road networks to gas pipelines, agriculture, health, and rail, this administration has the North well covered.”
Major Northern Nigeria Federal Projects Highlighted
The Presidency highlighted key infrastructure and development initiatives underway in the North, including:
• The Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, a crucial transport corridor facilitating trade and movement.
• The Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, enhancing connectivity across multiple states.
• The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline, spanning over 600 kilometers to bolster energy supply.
• Agricultural programs such as the $158 million Agriculture Value Chain initiative across nine northern states.
• The Agro-Climatic Resilience (ACReSAL) Project, aiming to restore one million hectares of degraded land.
• Health infrastructure upgrades at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, and revitalisation of approximately 1,000 primary health centers.
• Rail development projects, including the Kaduna–Kano Rail Line, Kano–Maradi Rail Line, and rehabilitation of the Abuja Metro.
Comparing Northern Nigeria Federal Projects to Southern Initiatives
While the Presidency’s list of Northern projects is extensive, an independent overview shows that out of 13 major ongoing federal projects, eight are domiciled in the South. Notable southern projects include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Northern projects, alongside those highlighted by the Presidency, also include the Bode Saadu-Kaima-Kosubosu Road and the Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Road.
This distribution underscores ongoing debates about not only the number of projects but also their scale, funding, and pace of completion.
Political Context and Looking Ahead
Kwankwaso’s accusations arrive amid growing political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections. As a significant Northern political figure and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, his statements carry weight, with multiple parties reportedly seeking his support.
The ongoing constitutional amendment process offers a potential avenue to address some of the structural grievances underlying regional tensions especially regarding resource allocation and fiscal federalism.
The debate over regional resource allocation continues to shape Nigeria’s political and socio-economic landscape. While Senator Kwankwaso highlights real concerns about underdevelopment in the North, the Tinubu administration points to a growing portfolio of projects aimed at addressing these issues. How these efforts translate into improved living conditions and perceptions of fairness will be critical for national unity and political stability in the coming years.
Your Turn
What do you think?
Is President Tinubu administration doing enough to address Northern Nigeria’s development needs, or do Kwankwaso’s concerns reflect deeper issues of imbalance and neglect?
Should resource allocation be more transparent and structured around regional equity?
Share your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s hear your voice on how Nigeria can truly build a fair and united future–one project, one region at a time.
