Tanimu Yakubu, Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, has refuted allegations that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is sidelining northern Nigeria in terms of infrastructure and development projects.
Responding to recent criticisms, Yakubu revealed that over 50 percent of the federal capital budget for 2024 and 2025 has been directed toward projects and programmes in the northern region.
Prominent northern figures such as former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, former SGF Babachir Lawal, and Bashir Dalhatu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), had accused the Tinubu government of marginalising the North.
Yakubu, however, dismissed the claims as “unfounded” and “politically motivated,” stating that the federal government is committed to equitable development across all regions. “Contrary to politically motivated narratives, northern Nigeria is not on the margins—it is at the heart of federal investment priorities,” he said.
He explained that when national trunk infrastructure and water basin projects are fully considered, over half of the capital budget is traceable to the North. Major initiatives highlighted include the dualisation of the Abuja–Kano expressway and the ₦12.1 trillion Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, with ₦3.63 trillion already approved for initial phases in Sokoto and Kebbi States.
Other key infrastructure projects listed include the Kano–Maradi standard gauge railway, Zungeru–Kano power transmission line, and runway upgrades at airports in Katsina, Maiduguri, and Kaduna. He also cited the development of inland dry ports in Funtua and Bauchi, aimed at boosting agro-exports and logistics.
On water resource development, Yakubu noted the federal government’s significant investments through river basin development authorities, particularly in the Sokoto-Rima and Upper Benue basins. These funds are supporting irrigation, flood control, and rural livelihoods.
In terms of security, he referenced intensified operations in the North-West and North-Central, with substantial funding for military efforts such as Operations Hadarin Daji, Whirl Stroke, and Whirl Punch. More than ₦60 billion is also being channeled through the Office of the National Security Adviser and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to rebuild infrastructure in conflict-affected areas, including schools, markets, and farms.
Yakubu further emphasized the administration’s commitment to social protection, noting that over 60 percent of the 12 million households enrolled in the conditional cash transfer scheme are from the North—demonstrating a strong focus on economic inclusion in the region.
