By: Erewunmi Peace

The Nigerian Presidency has strongly denied recent claims by former Kano State governor and 2023 NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has neglected Northern Nigeria in his administration’s development agenda.

Kwankwaso made the statement during a constitutional stakeholders’ meeting in Kano on July 24, where he criticized the Tinubu-led government for allegedly channeling federal resources to Southern Nigeria while ignoring pressing infrastructural and economic issues in the North. He described road travel between Abuja and Kano as “hell,” citing the poor state of the route and other Northern projects.

In swift response, the Presidency, through presidential adviser Sunday Dare, issued a public statement countering Kwankwaso’s assertions. The statement, titled “Senator Kwankwaso, You Are Wrong – North Not Neglected Under President Tinubu”, outlined numerous ongoing and completed federal projects in the North, dismissing the neglect narrative as misleading.

“President Tinubu has the North fully covered,” the statement read. “From roads to railways, education to agriculture, and health to housing, the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda includes significant interventions across Northern Nigeria.”

The Presidency cited several major projects as evidence of commitment to Northern development, including:

Abuja-Kano Expressway reconstruction

Sokoto-Badagry Highway construction

Kano-Maradi Rail Project

AKK Gas Pipeline Project

Upgrades in agricultural processing zones across Northern states

Interventions in health and education across Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, and Niger States

The government also pointed to economic reforms aimed at improving the livelihood of Nigerians nationwide, including fuel subsidy removal and agricultural revitalization, which are said to directly benefit Northern communities.

Kwankwaso is yet to officially respond to the Presidency’s rebuttal as of press time.

This exchange adds a fresh dimension to the growing political tensions between Northern stakeholders and the current administration, just over a year into President Tinubu’s tenure.