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Minister replies Kwankwaso on Tinubu govt neglecting North

Published

9 months ago

July 25, 2025

Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Atah

Minister replies Kwankwaso on Tinubu govt neglecting North

The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Atah, has strongly criticized former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso over remarks alleging that the Federal Government has sidelined the North in its infrastructure agenda.

Kwankwaso, speaking at the Kano Zone Constitutional Review public hearing on July 24, 2025, accused the Bola Tinubu administration of prioritizing infrastructure development in “a certain part of the country,” an apparent reference to the Southern region.

Describing the comments as both “disappointing” and “unfortunate,” Minister Atah said such sweeping statements were unbecoming of a statesman, especially in the absence of data or credible evidence.

In a statement released Friday through his aide, Seyi Olorunsola, Atah asserted that there is no factual basis for Kwankwaso’s claims. He accused the former governor of attempting to regain political relevance and advised Nigerians to disregard his comments.

“Contrary to the claims, the Minister insists that infrastructure deployment across the North under this administration is significant and demonstrable. Key highlights include:”The Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano dual carriageway, initiated under the Buhari administration and vigorously continued under President Tinubu—with substantial monthly funding mobilised in 2024. By March 2025, over N50 billion had been committed, and the project is scheduled for completion in 2026.”The Kano–Maiduguri dual carriageway, now essentially completed, linking Kano to Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states, enhancing trade corridors and regional integration.”Pending and awarded contracts for dualisation of strategic corridors such as the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe highway, and the massive Sokoto–Lagos Superhighway. These corridors span multiple Northern states and address rural access and economic linkage.

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“In addition, the President himself has restated commitments to nationwide infrastructure inclusivity:”On April 14, 2025, at the inauguration of Section 2 of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano corridor, Tinubu reaffirmed his vision to complete critical road infrastructure projects across Nigeria, explicitly citing the vital link between South and North connectivity.”On June 5 and 6, 2025, he virtually flagged off key Northern road projects—such as the Kano–Kongolam Road, Yakasai–Zalli links, and rural access roads—underscoring that these are designed to boost economic productivity, farm-to-market logistics, and integration.”Moreover, according to findings published in October 2024 by the Federal Ministry of Works, over 52.4% of Tinubu’s legacy road projects by kilometerage are located in Northern Nigeria. Of 82 Sukuk-funded ongoing projects, 45 are in the North versus 37 in the South. Emergency intervention and road tax-credit schemes likewise show a higher distribution of infrastructure deployment in Northern states.

“Minister Atah thus categorically rejects Engr. Kwankwaso’s claim about a “deplorable” state of the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano highway. He points out that the road has been under reconstruction for nearly seven years, during which Kwankwaso remained silent,” the statement said.

The minister also questioned the credibility of the former presidential candidate, stating that his political influence is “largely confined to the Kano area.”

He contrasted Kwankwaso’s position with what he described as the warm reception President Tinubu received in Kano during a condolence visit to the family of the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata. This, Atah said, reflected broader national support for the president across regional lines.

Atah urged Nigerians to “disregard the political theatrics” and continue backing the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which, he said, is rooted in equity, fairness, and national unity.

Minister replies Kwankwaso on Tinubu govt neglecting North

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Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land Seeks Stronger Security Collaboration with NSCDC

Published

9 hours ago

April 29, 2026

Trends Admin

Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land Seeks Stronger Security Collaboration with NSCDC

The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Sheikh Al-Imam (Barrister) Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has called for enhanced collaboration between religious leaders and security agencies to strengthen peace and security across Oyo State.

Sheikh Akeugberu made the call on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at its headquarters in Agodi, Ibadan, where he was received by the State Commandant, Augustine Padonu.

Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land Seeks Stronger Security Collaboration with NSCDC

The Grand Imam said the engagement was aimed at deepening cooperation between faith-based institutions and security operatives in addressing emerging security challenges and promoting peaceful coexistence in communities.

He stressed the importance of unity among stakeholders in maintaining societal stability, noting that religious leaders have a critical role to play in promoting intelligence sharing, conflict resolution, and community awareness.

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Sheikh Akeugberu also commended the NSCDC for its efforts in safeguarding lives and protecting critical national assets, describing the Corps as a key pillar in Nigeria’s internal security framework.

He assured the Command of continued support from the Muslim community in Oyo State, particularly in promoting peacebuilding initiatives and grassroots collaboration aimed at improving security outcomes.

In his response, Commandant Augustine Padonu expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely and significant in strengthening community-security relations.

Padonu reiterated the Corps’ readiness to work closely with religious leaders and other stakeholders to enhance security awareness and improve engagement at the grassroots level.

He emphasized the importance of trust, cooperation, and mutual respect in achieving sustainable peace, assuring that the NSCDC would remain committed to its mandate of protecting citizens and maintaining law and order.

The visit ended with a mutual commitment by both parties to deepen collaboration in the interest of peace, stability, and development across Oyo State.

Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land Seeks Stronger Security Collaboration with NSCDC

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Tinubu Removes NMDPRA Chief Saidu Mohammed Months After Appointment

Published

10 hours ago

April 29, 2026

Trends Admin

Tinubu Removes NMDPRA Chief Saidu Mohammed Months After Appointment

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed Mr Saidu Mohammed as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), just months after his appointment, in a major shake-up within Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory leadership.

The President has also nominated Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the agency, subject to Senate confirmation.

According to a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the decision was taken “in the public interest” and in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The statement explained that the move is aimed at strengthening regulatory efficiency and improving governance in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Pending Senate confirmation of the new nominee, the most senior officer in the NMDPRA will oversee the agency in an acting capacity.

The Presidency also thanked the outgoing Authority Chief Executive, Saidu Mohammed, for his service and wished him success in his future endeavours.

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Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, the newly nominated head of the agency, is described as a seasoned energy executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors. He is noted for expertise in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery.

He holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University and is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.

His nomination comes months after Tinubu initially submitted Mohammed’s name to the Senate for confirmation following leadership changes in key petroleum regulatory agencies. At the time, Mohammed had been expected to lead the NMDPRA, while another nominee was proposed for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

Mohammed, a chemical engineer with decades of experience in the oil and gas sector, previously served in senior positions within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) structure, including Managing Director roles at the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company. He also participated in several national gas infrastructure projects.

The latest development is part of ongoing restructuring within Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory framework under the Petroleum Industry Act, which has seen changes in leadership across key agencies.

The Senate is expected to consider the nomination of Rabiu Umar in the coming days as part of its confirmation process.

Tinubu Removes NMDPRA Chief Saidu Mohammed Months After Appointment

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Police Order Dismissal, Prosecution of Officers Over Effurun Killing

Published

10 hours ago

April 29, 2026

Trends Admin

police officer kills handcuffed suspect in Delta

Police Order Dismissal, Prosecution of Officers Over Effurun Killing

The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the dismissal and prosecution of officers involved in the extrajudicial killing of 28-year-old Mene Ogidi in Effurun, Delta State, describing the incident as “criminal and unprofessional” and inconsistent with police standards of engagement.

Addressing journalists at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, said the April 26 incident was unacceptable and reaffirmed that no officer has the authority to take the law into their own hands regardless of the circumstances.

The IGP confirmed that the principal suspect, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nuhu Usman, along with other officers involved in the operation, have been transferred from the Delta State Command to Abuja to face disciplinary proceedings. He added that the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) has already taken up the case.

He further disclosed that three inspectors who were part of the operation have been subjected to an Orderly Room Trial as part of internal disciplinary procedures to determine their individual levels of involvement.

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Police Arrest Two Suspects Over Killing of 17-Year-Old UTME Candidate

According to the police leadership, investigations established that ASP Usman violated Force Order 247, which governs the use of firearms, as well as other standard operational procedures regulating police conduct during arrests and engagements with suspects.

The Force has recommended the immediate dismissal of all officers found culpable in the incident. It also directed that they be handed over to appropriate judicial authorities for prosecution over unlawful homicide after their removal from service. The recommendations have been forwarded to the Police Service Commission for final approval.

The Inspector-General distanced the institution from the actions of the officers, stressing that they acted outside official rules and the core mandate of the Nigeria Police Force. He stated firmly that “no uniform is a licence to kill” and reiterated the Force’s zero-tolerance stance on abuse of power and extrajudicial conduct.

He also extended condolences to the family of the deceased and assured Nigerians that justice would be served transparently. The IGP urged residents of Delta State and the general public to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands while investigations and disciplinary actions continue.

The police leadership said the case reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability within the Force and ensure that officers who violate professional standards face appropriate sanctions.