Presidency Rejects Kwankwaso’s Claims, Asserts North Not Neglected Under Tinubu

 The Nigerian Presidency on July 25, 2025, firmly countered allegations by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), who accused the Bola Tinubu administration of disproportionately channeling national resources to the South, thereby exacerbating poverty and insecurity in the North. 

Kwankwaso, speaking at a stakeholders’ dialogue on the 2025 constitutional amendment in Kano on July 24, highlighted the deplorable state of federal roads, recounting a grueling road trip from Abuja to Kano via Kaduna after a flight cancellation, which he described as a “hellish” experience due to poor infrastructure. He argued that this neglect has deepened northern challenges, including a poverty rate exceeding 70% in some states and ongoing banditry.

In response, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, issued a detailed rebuttal on X, listing numerous ongoing projects to demonstrate the administration’s commitment to the North. These include the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, currently under rehabilitation with a projected completion date of 2026, the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, and the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline, a 614km project aimed at boosting energy access. 

Dare also cited the $158.15 million Agriculture Value Chain programme across nine northern states, the Kolmani Integrated Development Project in Bauchi and Gombe, and the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) initiative, which targets restoring one million hectares of degraded land. Healthcare investments were highlighted, with expansions at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, and the Federal Medical Centre in Nguru, alongside the revitalization of 1,000 primary health centers.

Critics, including some northern civil society groups, argue that while these projects are underway, their pace and impact are insufficient, with the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano road remaining hazardous despite years of promises. The Presidency’s narrative of balanced development contrasts with Kwankwaso’s firsthand account, raising questions about implementation versus intent. This dispute, unfolding as the 2025 constitutional review nears, underscores a broader debate on regional equity, with data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing northern states still lag in human development indices, fueling the controversy.