The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has come out strongly against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing his administration of neglecting Northern Nigeria despite the region’s massive support during the 2023 elections.
At a high-level policy dialogue in Kaduna, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, the Chairman of ACF’s Board of Trustees, Bashir Dalhatu, didn’t hold back in expressing disappointment. He reminded everyone that the North delivered over 64% of the votes that helped Tinubu emerge victorious, yet the region has nothing significant to show for it.
“Despite our support and goodwill, the feeling in the North is, to put it mildly, completely mixed,” Dalhatu said.
According to him, key federal appointments, critical infrastructure, and budgetary allocations have continuously overlooked Northern interests. He listed several abandoned or poorly-funded projects like the Ajaokuta Steel Plant and Kolmani oil exploration, and raised concerns over power supply, education, healthcare, and especially security.
Dalhatu expressed alarm over the rise in banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings, calling on the Tinubu administration to take bold and sustained action, particularly by tackling the root causes such as youth unemployment and deepening poverty.
On agriculture, he slammed the government’s decision to allow duty-free food imports, warning that the move has crippled local businesses, especially rice mills. He also pointed out that agriculture—the backbone of the North’s economy—has received less than 5% of the national budget, which is far below the FAO’s 25% recommendation.
The ACF’s message was clear: the North feels sidelined, and the government must take urgent, deliberate steps to rebuild trust and deliver on its promises to the region.
