Presidency Claps Back At Kwankwaso over Claims Of Northern Neglect.
A fresh political rift has emerged between the Presidency and former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over remarks suggesting that the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is neglecting Northern Nigeria in its distribution of resources and infrastructure development.
Speaking at the Kano State Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment, convened by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kwankwaso criticized the federal government for what he described as “regional imbalance” in the allocation of projects and developmental efforts.
While praising the inclusiveness of the Kano dialogue session, Kwankwaso used the platform to question the federal government’s commitment to equity. Citing his recent journey along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway, the former governor lamented its poor condition and broader concerns about the lack of attention to infrastructure in the North.
We support development anywhere in this country, but a situation where the government is concentrating its resources in one part of the country and leaving other parts behind is not ideal,” Kwankwaso said.
“I urge the current administration to change for the better and ensure the equitable distribution of scarce resources for the development of all parts of the country.
While Responding to the claims, the Presidency dismissed Kwankwaso’s claims as inaccurate and misleading. Citing numerous ongoing and completed projects across the North, government sources labeled the senator’s comments as a political narrative not supported by facts.
A statement backed by a comprehensive list of infrastructure, agriculture, health, energy, and transportation projects, reiterated that the North has significantly benefited under President Tinubu’s administration within the short span of two years.
The rebuttal listed over 40 major projects and programs, including:
Roads & Highways: Abuja–Kaduna–Kano expressway, Sokoto–Badagry highway, Kano–Maiduguri dual carriageway, among many others.
Agriculture: $158.15 million Agriculture Value Chain Project in nine Northern states, Kolmani Integrated Development Project (Bauchi and Gombe), and the Kano River Irrigation Scheme.
Health: Rehabilitation and expansion of teaching hospitals in Zaria, Sokoto, Bauchi, Plateau, and Katsina, as well as revitalization of over 1,000 primary healthcare centers.
Energy: The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and planned 50MW ABIBA Solar Power Station in Kaduna.
Rail & Metro: Kaduna–Kano and Kano–Maradi rail lines, and Abuja Light Rail rehabilitation.
Also highlighted were national-level initiatives like the Great Green Wall, climate resilience programs (ACReSAL), and erosion/watershed management projects tailored to Northern states.
Observers suggest that Kwankwaso’s remarks may be politically motivated, as he continues to position himself and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as an alternative voice ahead of future elections. The Presidency’s firm response, however, signals a readiness to defend its northern record amid growing scrutiny.
While Kwankwaso’s intervention has sparked a wider conversation about equity and federal balance, the Presidency’s evidence based reply indicates that Northern Nigeria is not being sidelined as claimed. As Nigeria moves toward the 2025 constitutional amendment and eyes the 2027 general elections, such exchanges may become increasingly common in the nation’s evolving political narrative.
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