On Thursday, Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2023, alleged that mismanagement of resources at the national, state, and local levels has worsened poverty and insecurity, especially in the north.
Dare countered Kwankwaso’s claims, saying they do not align with “facts” on ground.
“SENATOR KWANKWASO. YOU ARE WRONG. NORTH NOT NEGLECTED,” Dare wrote in capital letters.
“PRESIDENT TINUBU HAS THE NORTH COVERED. NORTHERN NIGERIA NOT LEFT BEHIND.”
He went on to list over 40 projects and programmes across sectors, which he said the Tinubu administration has initiated or sustained in northern Nigeria within two years.
According to Dare, several road projects have been executed under the president, including the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano expressway, Sokoto–Badagry expressway, and the Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina route.
In the agricultural sector, he cited the $158.15 million Value Chain North (VCN) programme covering nine states, the Kolmani Integrated Development Project in Bauchi and Gombe, and the World Bank–funded ACReSAL climate resilience initiative.
“Large-scale irrigation development through the Kano River Project was commissioned in 2023 and remains operational,” Dare added.
The presidential aide also listed over a dozen health institutions either revitalised or expanded under Tinubu’s government, including Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, Jos University Teaching Hospital, and over 1,000 primary health centres across the region.
On road infrastructure, Dare highlighted 33 highway projects, such as the Kano–Kongolam road, the expansion of Mararaba–Keffi road, and reconstruction efforts on strategic corridors like Dikwa–Gamboru–Ngala in Borno state.
He noted that the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline (614 km) and the Gwagwalada Power Plant have positioned the north as a key energy hub, while also pointing to solar and renewable energy efforts in Kaduna.
Rail transport, he said, has also not been left out, with the ongoing Kaduna–Kano and Kano–Maradi rail projects, as well as a N100 billion budgeted Kaduna Light Rail system.
Dare added that Abuja’s metro line is undergoing rehabilitation as part of the administration’s investment in transport infrastructure.
On regional integration and trade, Dare mentioned the Trans-Sahara trade corridor and the revitalisation of national institutions such as the Great Green Wall agency and the erosion control agency (NEWMAP).
“All of these in only two years by President Tinubu,” Dare stated.
SENATOR KWANKWOSO. YOU ARE WRONG. NORTH NOT NEGLECTED.
PRESIDENT TINUBU HAS THE NORTH COVERED
NORTHERN NIGERIA NOT LEFT BEHIND.
SOME SAMPLERS/ EVIDENCE
SOME Federal Government Projects across Northern Nigeria Under President Tinubu’s Administration
For starters : Under President Tinubu
Abuja-Kaduna-kano Expressway
Sokoto-Badagry Expressway
Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina Expressway
AGRICULTURE
1. \$158.15m Agriculture Value Chain (VCN) Programme for nine Northern states
2. Kolmani Integrated Development Project (Bauchi and Gombe States)
3. Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) — a six-year World Bank–funded programme to restore 1 million hectares of degraded land and improve climate resilience in Northern Nigeria states
4. Kano River Project (irrigation scheme) — large-scale integrated irrigation development in Kano State, commissioned in 2023 and operational under the current administration
HEALTH
5. Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna (North West)
6. Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina (North West)
7. University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau (North Central)
8. Reference Hospital, Kaduna (North West)
9. Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto (North West)
10. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi (North East)
11. Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre Complex, Ilorin, Kwara (North Central)
12. Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe (North East)
13. Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau (North Central) — additional expansion
14. Reinvigoration of about 1,000 Primary Health Centers, PHCS in the North
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS
15. Kano–Kongolam Road (Section II: Kano–Kanwar–Danja–Hadejia)
16. Yakasai–Zalli Road
17. 1,068 km Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway (Northern section including Sokoto and Kebbi)
18. 258 km, 3-lane Carriageway (Section 2, Phase 2A: CH 120+000–CH 378+000) in Gulumbe, Kebbi State
19. Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Dual Carriageway
20. Biu–Kangiwa–Kamba–Gaya–Niger Republic Road (30 km segment)
21. Malando–Garin Baka–Ngaski–Wara Road (CH.0+000 – CH.79+586)
22. Koko–Besse–Zaria–Kala Road
23. Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Highway (375 km)
24. Repair of the Gamboru Bridge (Gamboru–Ngala–Kala–Balde Road in Borno State)
25. Expansion of Mararaba–Keffi Road (43.65 km)
26. Construction of Lafia Bypass Road (Nasarawa State)
27. Kano–Maiduguri Dual Carriageway
28. Adamawa–Taraba Single Carriageway
29. Adamawa–Borno Single Carriageway
30. Kaduna–Jos Road (Single Carriageway)
31. Zaria–Funtua–Gusau–Sokoto Road (Dual Carriageway)
32. Zaria–Hunkuyi–Daya Road (Sections I, II & III – 152.67 km) — rehabilitation project in Kaduna and Kano States
33. Reconstruction of Dikwa–Gamboru–Ngala Road (49.55 km) — strategic corridor reconstruction in Borno State
ENERGY AND GAS
34. Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline (AKK) (614 km)
35. Gwagwalada Power Plant (FCT, Abuja – connected with AKK pipeline)
36. ABIBA Solar Power Station, Kaduna (50 MW) — planned solar power plant to boost renewable energy capacity in Kaduna State
RAIL AND METRO
37. Kaduna–Kano Rail Line (203 km, part of Lagos-Kano Rail Project)
38. Kano–Maradi Rail Line (285 km, linking Kano, Jigawa, Katsina to Maradi in Niger Republic)
39. Kaduna Light Rail System — ₦100 billion budget allocation to develop light rail public transport in Kaduna
40. Abuja Metro Line Rehabilitation (Abuja Light Rail)
WATERWAYS & TRADE CORRIDORS
41. Trans-Sahara Trade Route — infrastructure development to connect trade routes from Calabar through Nasarawa and Abuja towards Northern Nigeria and beyond
NATIONAL PROGRAMMES & INSTITUTIONS
42. National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) — renewed mandate and leadership for desertification combat in Northern Nigeria
43. Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) — ongoing erosion control and watershed infrastructure development in the North.
All of these in only two years by President Tinubu @officialABAT
By: Sunday Dare.