ABUJA
President Bola Tinubu has said his administration will ensure equitable development of all regions of the country with no area left behind.
He gave the assurance, yesterday, in Kaduna at a two-day interactive session on government-citizens’ engagement organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation.
He said the ministers’ interactions with stakeholders at the event will unveil empirical facts and figures that the North was not neglected.
Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, highlighted key achievements under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including interventions in economic reforms, education, health, security, infrastructure and food security.
Northern governors and National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, concurred with the President, with the governors reaffirming support for Tinubu, and Ribadu saying that Boko Haram and bandits’ attacks have declined under Tinubu’s watch.
Former SGF, Babachir Lawal, and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Alhaji Bashir M. Dalhatu, echoed Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s criticism of President Tinubu’s administration, alleging deliberate neglect of Northern Nigeria in terms of infrastructural development.
On economic reforms, the president said his administration had implemented bold reforms to stabilise and grow the economy, including unifying the exchange rate and restructuring debt profiles.
Tinubu stressed that investments had been made in modernising security equipment and up-skilling personnel.
He listed major projects to include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry super-highway, ongoing rail projects (Kano-Maradi, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri), and housing initiatives.
Tinubu also highlighted the Renewed Hope Agenda’s priorities to include reforming the economy for sustained growth, strengthening national security, boosting agriculture for food security, unlocking energy and natural resources, and enhancing infrastructure and transportation.
Others are focusing on education, health, and social investment, accelerating diversification through industrialisation and innovation as well as improving governance for effective service delivery.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, though painful, has been a necessary reform that saved trillions of Naira.
“The Palliative Measures Plan and interventions through state governments, MSME support, and public transportation upgrades are mitigating the impacts.
“The savings are now being redirected into critical infrastructure and human development, while states are receiving increased allocations for development,” Tinubu said.
His words: “The economic reform strategies are designed to create a robust, diversified, and resilient economy.
“By fostering an environment conducive to investment and innovation, the administration aims to stimulate growth across all sectors, reduce unemployment, and ensure equitable wealth distribution.
“Security is the bedrock of national development.
“The focus here is on enhancing the capabilities of our security forces, promoting peace and stability, and ensuring that every Nigerian feels safe and protected, no matter where they reside.
“Agriculture holds the key to our nation’s self-sufficiency and economic empowerment.”
According to Tinubu, this is by modernising farming practices, increasing access to finance, and expanding market opportunities for farmers.
“This administration places Nigeria on a path to achieving food security and transforming our country into an agricultural powerhouse. Through reforms, the government is unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s vast natural resources and energy sector.
“Through sustainable management, increased investments, and the adoption of modern technologies, the goal remains to drive economic growth and ensure environmental sustainability,” the president added.
According to him, over 400,000 students in tertiary institutions had so far benefitted from the Students’ Loan Programme, while an estimated N53 billion had been disbursed.
He also highlighted the importance of patience and collective efforts in achieving the agenda’s goals.
Tinubu extolled the virtues of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, describing him as a phenomenal being who promoted national cohesion and unity in Nigeria.
He also saluted the courage, sincerity, and patriotism of other leaders such as Chief Solomon Lar, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Shehu Dan Musa, Abubakar Rimi, Prof. Suleman Kumo, Issac Shaahu, Prof. Jerry Gana, and others.
Meanwhile northern governirs have pledged their support for Tinubu ahead of 2027.
Speaking at the event, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State and chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, reaffirmed the region’s commitment to the administration of President Tinubu, citing significant strides in infrastructure, security, and economic reform.
Governor Yahaya, who made the opening remarks, said the gathering was not about empty rhetoric but an opportunity to critically examine the performance of the Federal Government, particularly in relation to promises made during the 2023 campaign.
“When candidate Bola Tinubu stood before us, he made specific commitments to Northern Nigeria. The North believed in his vision and delivered over 60% of the votes that brought him to power,” he noted.
According to him, the region is already seeing the dividends of that political alliance. He listed several key projects under implementation, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line, rehabilitation of the Kaduna Refinery, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline, and continued oil drilling at the Kolmani Oilfields.
“These projects are proof that when citizens engage and leaders remain committed, democracy works. The Renewed Hope Agenda is beginning to yield tangible results,” he added.
Governor Yahaya further highlighted emerging infrastructure projects such as the proposed Sokoto-Badagry Super-highway, improvements in inter-state road networks, agriculture value chain initiatives, and healthcare upgrades. He emphasized that these reflect a clear policy focus on uplifting the North’s economic and social landscape.
On security, he said over 300 bandit and terrorist commanders have been eliminated in recent months through improved military coordination and intelligence efforts, asserting that “while challenges remain, the siege on our people is being lifted.”
He also commended the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development as a strategic move to modernize the pastoral economy and resolve long-standing herder-farmer conflicts. On youth and education, he praised the Federal Government’s interventions, particularly grants and renewed efforts to tackle the Almajirai and out-of-school children problem through partnerships with state governments and traditional institutions.
Addressing the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration—including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate liberalization—Governor Yahaya acknowledged the hardship faced by citizens, but defended the decisions as “painful but necessary steps” towards long-term economic stability.
To sustain the gains recorded so far, he called on all stakeholders in the North — governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, business leaders, and civil society—to complement federal efforts with robust local initiatives in infrastructure, education, and social development.
He urged the audience to evaluate the administration’s performance fairly, especially in the build-up to the 2027 general elections. “By the measure of performance and delivery, President Tinubu has earned our continued support,” he declared.
Also speaking at the event, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that incidents of Boko Haram attacks, banditry, and communal violence in the northern region have significantly reduced under President Tinubu’s administration, compared to the previous government.
Ribadu attributed the decline to Tinubu’s directive for a unified approach to national security, saying: “Kaduna State alone recorded 1,192 killings and over 3,348 kidnappings under the previous administration. In Benue, over 5,000 people lost their lives within the same period.”
He disclosed that ongoing military operations in the North-West have resulted in the rescue of 11,259 hostages as of May 2025, and that several notorious bandit leaders and their groups have been neutralised in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina states.
The NSA praised Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, for adopting a non-kinetic strategy to address unrest in Southern Kaduna, Birnin Gwari, and other flashpoints, describing the approach as “commendable and impactful.”
