North Not Marginalised Under Tinubu, Says Unity Group

A group advocating national unity and integration, under the auspices of the Nigeria First Project Initiative (NFPI), has dismissed claims that the northern region is being marginalised under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The NFPI said the persistent campaign that the North is being marginalised, undermined, and short-changed under the Tinubu administration—peddled by opposition politicians, critics, dissidents, and a section of the media—is not backed by convincing evidence or irrefutable facts.

In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Hamza Umar Saulawa, and Director of Research and Documentation, Bishir Dauda, on Sunday, the group said records in the public domain indicate otherwise.

The NFPI argued that, in terms of federal project allocation, the North is not being left behind. It added that while much attention has been given to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, critics have remained silent on the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, where significant progress has been recorded.

“The ongoing work on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, Kano-Maradi Railway, and the reconstruction of several roads across the North are concrete examples that debunk claims of marginalisation,” the group said.

It further noted that, politically, the North occupies key positions, including the Vice President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy Senate President, and National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Also, northerners are heading critical ministries under the Tinubu administration, including Defence, Housing, Agriculture, Health, and Police Affairs, among others.

“President Tinubu has also appointed several northerners as Senior Special Assistants, Special Advisers, board members, and chief executive officers. So how does this amount to marginalisation?” the statement queried.

According to the group, the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration impact the country as a whole, irrespective of geographical location.

“For instance, the unification of the foreign exchange market, which has curbed racketeering and round-tripping; the removal of the opaque and corruption-prone fuel subsidy regime; and ongoing tax reforms are yielding positive results. These include increased allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), which all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory benefit from.

“Today, there is no state in Nigeria that cannot pay workers’ salaries. Many states, including those in the North, have cleared outstanding gratuities while undertaking major infrastructure projects across key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and works,” it added.

The group also noted that President Tinubu has demonstrated commitment to reforming the country’s security architecture by championing constitutional amendments to enable the creation of state police, which it said would overhaul the nation’s security system.

It added that another significant effort by the administration is the push for full local government autonomy, citing the Supreme Court judgment mandating direct allocation of funds to local governments.

“This has begun to yield positive results in some states, where local government officials are now able to perform their duties effectively, including implementing projects that directly impact grassroots communities,” the statement said.

The NFPI stressed that while federal policies would help the North realise its full potential, development in the region does not depend solely on the federal government.

“Nigeria operates a three-tier system of government. Therefore, the responsibility for transforming the North also lies with state governors, local government chairmen, and the region’s political, intellectual, and business elites. With purposeful leadership at these levels, there will be no basis for claims of marginalisation.

“Governors such as Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Uba Sani of Kaduna State have repeatedly highlighted increased allocations to states, leaving no excuse for poor performance,” it added.

“In view of the above, marginalisation, as far as we are concerned, is merely a tool used by self-acclaimed regional and ethnic champions to seek personal concessions,” the statement concluded.

The group urged Nigerians to reject ethnicity, religious bigotry, and regionalism, emphasising that the country remains one nation with a shared destiny.