President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration faced sharp criticism on Monday as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) accused the federal government of sidelining Northern Nigeria in its development agenda.
Speaking at a two-day interactive session on Government-Citizen Engagement organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) at Arewa House in Kaduna, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse and Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees, alleged that the North has been largely overlooked despite its overwhelming electoral support for President Tinubu in 2023.
Dalhatu claimed that nearly two years into the administration, the region continues to struggle with insecurity, poor infrastructure, underfunded agriculture, and a deepening education crisis. He described the disparity in federal project allocation as “glaring” and questioned the government’s commitment to fairness and balanced development.
In response, Northern state governors and the Presidency dismissed the claims as unfounded, pointing to ongoing infrastructural projects and policy reforms targeted at improving socio-economic conditions in the North.
Government officials highlighted key investments in roads, agriculture, security, and education, noting that the Tinubu administration has not only acknowledged the region’s challenges but is actively addressing them through strategic initiatives and funding.
The clash underscores growing political tensions within the North over perceived marginalisation, even as the federal government continues to appeal for unity and patience amid ongoing national reforms.
