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Tinubu govt executing 40 major projects in North – Presidency
Tinubu govt executing 40 major projects in North – Presidency
The Presidency yesterday dismissed claims that Northern Nigeria was being neglected under President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the region was benefiting massively from his administration’s policies and investments.
Special adviser to the president on media and public communications, Sunday Dare, on his X handle, said more than 40 major infrastructure and development projects were currently underway across the North, cutting across transport, agriculture, health and energy sectors.
He was refuting allegations by the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, that the North had been neglected under Tinubu’s administration.
Among the highlighted projects are key highways such as the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, Kano–Maiduguri Dual Carriageway, and the reconstruction of the Dikwa–Gamboru–Ngala Road in Borno State.
In the rail sector, the Presidency cited ongoing work on the Kaduna–Kano Rail Line, the Kano–Maradi Rail Line linking Niger Republic, and the ₦100 billion allocation for the Kaduna Light Rail System.
The agriculture sector has also seen heavy federal investment, with programmes like the $158.15 million Agriculture Value Chain initiative for nine Northern states, the Kolmani Integrated Development Project in Bauchi and Gombe, and the World Bank–funded ACReSAL programme targeting one million hectares of degraded land for restoration.
On healthcare, Dare listed expansions and upgrades at major facilities, including Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, and over 1,000 Primary Health Centres across the North.
Energy projects are equally on the radar, including the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, the Gwagwalada Power Plant, and the proposed ABIBA Solar Power Station in Kaduna.
Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, also faulted Kwankwaso’s remark that national resources were increasingly tilted towards the southern region.
Afenifere said Kwankwaso’s statement was not only unfair but also deeply dangerous.
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Recall that Kwankwaso, during a stakeholders’ dialogue on the 2025 constitutional amendment in Kano on Thursday, warned that national resources were increasingly being tilted towards the southern region, resulting in deepening poverty and insecurity across the North.
He lamented the deplorable condition of federal roads in the northern states, recounting how a cancelled flight forced him to travel by road from Abuja to Kano via Kaduna—a journey he described as “hell” due to the poor road conditions.
However, Afenifere, in a statement issued by the National Organising Secretary of the organisation, Otunba Kole Omololu, said Kwankwaso’s statement “stokes regional tension and paints a false picture of deliberate southern favouritism.”
According to the organisation, “Kwankwaso’s alarmist rhetoric is not only unfair but also deeply dangerous.”
Afenifere noted that development is a gradual process, and President Tinubu had not yet reached the halfway mark of his term.
The organisation also described Kwankwaso’s statement as “not only grossly misleading but also deliberately incendiary.”
The statement reads: “As a former governor and minister, one would expect Senator Kwankwaso to speak with facts, not emotions laced with sectional bias.
“It must be stated unequivocally that no region in Nigeria has benefited more from concentrated federal presence in the past decade than the North. During the Buhari administration—a northern presidency which Senator Kwankwaso conveniently omits—critical national resources were disproportionately channeled to the North.
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“The World Bank Managing Director publicly disclosed that President Buhari specifically directed the institution to focus its interventions in northern Nigeria. Where was Kwankwaso’s voice for equity and fairness then?
“Road and rail infrastructure were overwhelmingly skewed. The Kano-Maradi railway, constructed deep into the Niger Republic with no economic significance to Nigeria, was completed under Buhari.
“Was this done for national integration or to aid cross-border movement of Fulani kinsmen? Meanwhile, under the same regime, the hell in which the senator travelled was not turned into heaven; the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, started by President Jonathan and designed to reach Iwo Junction, remained uncompleted.
“The Second Niger Bridge was still pending upon Buhari’s exit after eight years in office.
“Less than two years into President Tinubu’s administration, Kwankwaso is crying foul. Perhaps he is unaware that critical road projects have been initiated and awarded across the North, including the dualisation of the Kano-Maiduguri Road, Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega Road, and the Abuja-Keffi-Lafia corridor.
“The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, neglected by past regimes, is being fast-tracked. Just weeks ago, President Tinubu approved billions for critical infrastructure in Katsina, Borno, and Niger States. By 2027, and indeed by 2031, every region, including the North, will feel the impact of this administration.”
Afenifere, however, urged the former governor to rise above ethnic saboteurs and sectional agitators masquerading as patriots.
The organisation said, “Let statesmen, not ethnic lords, shape the conversation.”
Tinubu govt executing 40 major projects in North – Presidency
News
EFCC Arrests Abuja House Agent Over ₦288 Million Property Fraud
EFCC Arrests Abuja House Agent Over ₦288 Million Property Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested an Abuja-based real estate agent, Hajia Adama Ahmed Adamu, in connection with an alleged ₦288 million property fraud, the agency confirmed on Wednesday.
According to the EFCC, operatives of its Ilorin Zonal Directorate apprehended Adamu following a petition from a complainant, Alhaji Tanko Yawale, who alleged that the agent collected the funds under the pretext of facilitating the purchase of a property at House 31, Haile Selassie Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
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“Following the payment, Hajia Adamu allegedly failed to provide valid property documents and became evasive, raising suspicion and prompting a formal petition to the EFCC,” the commission stated on its official X handle.
Property-related fraud continues to be a recurring concern in Nigeria’s real estate sector, particularly in major cities like Abuja, where unsuspecting buyers often fall victim to agents posing as legitimate intermediaries. In response, the EFCC has intensified enforcement against land and housing scams, urging Nigerians to verify ownership and documentation before making payments.
The suspect is currently in EFCC custody as investigations continue. The commission also reiterated a warning to the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent property schemes and to report any suspected cases promptly.
EFCC Arrests Abuja House Agent Over ₦288 Million Property Fraud
News
Alkali resigns as Transport minister to chase Gombe governor’s seat
Alkali resigns as Transport minister to chase Gombe governor’s seat
The race for Gombe State’s Government House has officially claimed its latest heavyweight contender. Saidu Ahmed Alkali has stepped down from his role as the Minister of Transportation to focus entirely on his 2027 governorship bid.
Alkali’s exit follows a high-profile meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
His departure was formalized via a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
The move is not just about personal timing; it’s about legal compliance. Alkali is adhering to:
* Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026: Which mandates officials to vacate office before seeking elective posts.
* The INEC Timetable: With party primaries for the 2027 elections looming, the window for transition is closing.
* Presidential Directive: President Tinubu has been firm that any cabinet member eyeing an elective seat must resign before the primary process begins.
Alkali, a veteran politician and former Senator for Gombe North, is now the third member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to trade their ministerial portfolio for a campaign trail.
His resignation leaves a vacancy in the Ministry of Transportation at a critical time for the nation’s infrastructure projects, but signals a tightening of the political battlefield in Gombe.
The circular confirming the development was issued by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Ibrahim Kana.
The circular stated that the directive “followed the provisions of Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries ahead of the 2027 election.”
News
US Senator Ted Cruz Alleges Nigerian Officials Behind Christian Killings
US Senator Ted Cruz Alleges Nigerian Officials Behind Christian Killings
United States Senator Ted Cruz has alleged that some Nigerian officials are complicit in attacks on Christians, warning that the United States could impose sanctions on those found responsible.
Cruz made the claim while reacting to the recent Plateau killings, particularly the deadly attack in Jos North area of Plateau State.
In a post on X, the lawmaker stated that American authorities are aware of those allegedly enabling the violence. He accused certain officials of creating an environment where Christians are “routinely persecuted and slaughtered,” adding that the U.S. has the tools to hold such individuals accountable.
The remarks followed a Palm Sunday attack on Angwan Rukuba, where gunmen invaded the community around 8:30 p.m., killing at least 12 people. Police confirmed the victims included 10 men and two women, with additional bodies later recovered during search operations.
The timing of the attack, coinciding with a major Christian observance, has heightened concerns about religious violence in Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt region.
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Governor Caleb Mutfwang visited the affected community, expressing sympathy to victims’ families and vowing justice.
“Your pain is my pain, and the pain of Plateau State. My administration will pursue justice relentlessly until the perpetrators are brought to book,” he said.
The state government also announced emergency measures, including free medical treatment for the injured and dignified burials for the deceased.
To prevent further breakdown of law and order, authorities imposed a 48-hour curfew in Jos North, which lasted from midnight March 29 to April 1, 2026. Security presence was also reinforced, with additional personnel deployed to stabilise the area.
Security agencies have since intensified operations to track down those responsible for the attack, while residents remain on edge.
Cruz’s comments have reignited international scrutiny over Nigeria’s security situation, especially recurring violence in the Middle Belt.
However, the Federal Government of Nigeria has consistently rejected claims of targeted religious persecution, maintaining that the violence is driven by criminality, insurgency, and communal conflicts rather than a coordinated campaign against Christians.
President Bola Tinubu has also dismissed allegations of religious genocide, stating that Nigeria’s challenges stem from terrorism and extremism, not faith-based targeting.
Similarly, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has engaged with U.S. officials in past diplomatic efforts to clarify the country’s security realities.
Despite these assurances, incidents like the Plateau attack continue to raise both local and global concerns, with growing calls for stronger action to curb violence and ensure accountability.
US Senator Ted Cruz Alleges Nigerian Officials Behind Christian Killings
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