The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for delivering on several key electoral promises made to the region during the 2023 campaign.
The Governor gave the commendation while speaking at a two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement, organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), held at Arewa House in Kaduna.
The two-day session focuses on evaluating policy delivery, deepening democratic accountability and strengthening the partnership between government and citizens.
The NSGF Chairman described the theme of the event, “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity,” as timely and fundamental to strengthening democratic ideals.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya acknowledged that while the nation continues to face economic and social challenges, the Tinubu administration has taken concrete steps to address critical needs in Northern Nigeria.
He listed major projects such as the continuation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line, rehabilitation of the Kaduna Refinery, and the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline, as well as the oil drilling at the Kolmani Oilfields.
He emphasized that these projects, inherited and expanded under the Renewed Hope Agenda, are critical to industrial growth and energy security in the region and Nigeria at large.
The Governor also noted the federal government’s new infrastructure drives, including inter-state road networks and the ambitious Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, which aims to connect northern producers to southern markets.
He lauded federal programmes in agriculture, healthcare and education, describing them as evidence of a deliberate policy to uplift the wellbeing of the people.
On the security front, the NSGF Chairman stated that coordinated operations by the military and intelligence services have resulted in the elimination of over several bandit leaders and terrorist commanders across the region.
He praised the Tinubu administration for prioritizing security and said the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development marked a transformative step in resolving longstanding herder-farmer conflicts.
Speaking on youth and social development, Inuwa Yahaya referenced ongoing federal interventions in education, particularly the Almajiri system and the crisis of out-of-school children.
He commended collaborative efforts among the federal government, state governments, traditional rulers and international partners to address these persistent challenges.
However, the Gombe governor also acknowledged the pain caused by ongoing economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira.
“There is no doubt these reforms have had debilitating side effects. But they were necessary to stabilize our economy for long-term growth. The pain is real, but so is the progress.”
He called on Northern stakeholders, including state governments, traditional rulers, business leaders, and civil society, to complement federal efforts through grassroots investments and active civic engagement.
He recalled that when Tinubu stood before them during the 2023 campaign, he made specific commitments to Northern Nigeria.
“The North, believing in Tinubu’s vision, voted strongly for him, contributing to over 60 per cent of his winning votes. Today, we gather not for empty rhetoric, but to examine those promises and assess the level of progress so far. What we find is an administration that has delivered meaningful results for our region despite facing significant national challenges.”
Governor Inuwa Yahaya reaffirm the support of the North for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, stating that “In 2027, we must reward performance and hard work. And by that measure, President Tinubu has earned our continued support.”
Governor Inuwa Yahaya, however, did not shy away from highlighting areas where improvement is still needed.
He noted that while several ambitious infrastructure projects are underway, such as the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, none have yet directly touched the North-East subregion.
“We welcome the vision behind these projects, but we must also be honest; many of them have not touched the North-East. We need more federal presence in our zone to bridge the development gap and ensure equitable progress across all parts of the country.”
Leading the federal delegation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, assured participants that the North remains a critical part of the administration’s development agenda.
He emphasized that the interactive forum gave ministers and federal officials the opportunity to present empirical evidence of progress and reassure citizens that no region is being left behind.
SGF George Akume singled out the Governors of Gombe and Kaduna States for special commendation, noting that their leadership has become exemplary in the region.
He said their commitment to impactful governance and citizen-focused policies has not gone unnoticed.
“The Governors of Gombe and Kaduna have captured my imagination by their performance. We must acknowledge leaders like them, not just to commend their efforts, but to encourage them and others to do more.”
Also speaking at the summit, National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said violent attacks and insecurity in the region have significantly declined under President Tinubu’s leadership.
“Compared to the previous experience, Boko Haram attacks, banditry, and communal conflicts have drastically reduced, Ribadu noted.”
