Sunday Dare lists FG projects in north, rejects Kwankwaso’s claims of neglect under Tinubu

Sunday Dare, special adviser on media and communication to President Bola Tinubu, has faulted claims that the northern part of the country has been neglected by the federal government.

In a post on X, on Friday, Dare addressed Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano state, who had accused the federal government of concentrating resources in one part of the country while neglecting other regions.

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.