The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has accused President Tinubu’s administration of sidelining the Northern region in federal budget allocations and infrastructure development despite the region’s significant electoral support in the 2023 elections.
Speaking at a citizen engagement forum organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna, ACF board of trustees chairman, Bashir M. Dalhatu, said the North, which contributed over 64% of Tinubu’s total votes, has been largely excluded from key policy decisions.
Dalhatu cited a Federal ministry of works report showing that out of N1.013 trillion allocated for roads, the South West got N1.394 trillion while the North East received only N24 billion. He criticised the neglect of major critical Northern infrastructure projects, including the Mambilla Hydroelectric Dam and Baro Inland Port.
He also decried the less than 5% budgetary allocation to agriculture, despite the regions key role in food production, and called for a state of emergency in the power sector to support economic development in the region.
This is coming after a similar accusation by a 2023 presidential aspirant, Rabiu Kwankwaso. Though, his claims were quickly countered by the presidency, who revealed a list of several ongoing projects in the Northern region.
Babachir Lawal also echoed a similar concern. However, Kaduna and Gombe state governors defended the Tinubu administration, assuring that the several campaign promises made by the administration are being actualized.
