The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has issued a strong rebuke against President Bola Tinubu's administration, accusing the federal government of deliberately marginalizing northern Nigeria in the allocation of infrastructure projects and funding.
In a statement signed by NEF spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the Forum described the distribution of infrastructure funding as "lopsided" and warned that continued neglect of the northern region could pose a significant threat to national unity.
Funding Disparities Highlighted
The Forum pointed to what it considers massive investments in southern projects, specifically citing the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, which received N1.34 trillion, and the Second Niger Bridge with N148 billion in allocated funding.
In stark contrast, the NEF described northern infrastructure allocations as mere "tokens," highlighting the Abuja–Kano Expressway (N252 billion) and the Wusasa–Jos Road (N18 billion) as examples of the disparity.
The Forum also drew attention to what it termed the "total neglect" of critical road infrastructure in the North East region, particularly the Jalingo–Numan–Yola–Bama and Bauchi–Gombe highways.
Rail Infrastructure Concerns
Beyond road projects, the NEF expressed serious concern over deteriorating rail infrastructure in northern Nigeria. The Forum specifically mentioned the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri Eastern Rail Line, which has reportedly remained inactive for over a decade, while noting that modern rail initiatives appear to be concentrated in southern parts of the country.
"The systematic exclusion of Northern Nigeria from major infrastructure investments is not just an economic oversight—it is a national threat. It deepens inequality, fuels regional resentment, and endangers the unity of the Republic," the NEF statement declared.
Calls for Action
The Forum has called for immediate inclusion of the northern region in the national infrastructure development plan. Additionally, NEF is demanding a public explanation from the Ministry of Works and the Nigerian Railway Corporation regarding the alleged imbalance.
The Forum has also urged northern lawmakers to make a formal commitment to address what it perceives as regional marginalization in infrastructure allocation.
As of publication time, the presidency has not issued an official response to these allegations.
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