Umahi to Kwankwaso: Tinubu has done more for the north — you owe him an apology

David Umahi, minister of works, has criticised Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, over comments suggesting that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is concentrating infrastructure development in the southern region of the country.

In a statement posted on X by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, Umahi described Kwankwaso’s remarks as misleading and divisive, saying they do not reflect the actual distribution of federal projects under the current administration.

Kwankwaso had on Thursday alleged that the national budget was skewed in favour of the south.

He made the comment during a Kano state stakeholders’ dialogue on the 2025 constitutional amendment, where he said the imbalance in resources and development was contributing to insecurity and poverty in northern Nigeria.

Responding, Umahi said the data on road infrastructure projects contradicts Kwankwaso’s claim.

He cited the ongoing construction of the 1,068km Sokoto-Badagry superhighway, noting that the Kebbi and Sokoto sections alone account for 378km by six lanes — or 756km by three lanes — in the north.

The minister added that the 439km Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road is also being redesigned to rigid pavement, in line with presidential directives aimed at durability.

He said that of the four key legacy road projects of the Tinubu administration, the north accounts for 52 percent of the total length while the south holds 48 percent.

“In the four legacy projects, the North has 52 per cent and the South 48 per cent. Within the ongoing projects as of today, the South has 409km by three lanes and the North has 756km by three lanes,” he said.

“The facts are there. I wonder why people don’t talk about other legacy projects of Mr President, but will always dwell on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

“This road has only 220km by three lanes in Lagos State, which is ongoing now. Cross River and Akwa Ibom have 130km by three lanes that is ongoing, whereas Kebbi alone has 316km by three lanes that is ongoing. Sokoto has 240km by three lanes that is ongoing.

“I think Senator Kwankwaso is not fair to Mr President and the unity of our country.”

In terms of current works, the north has 756km by three lanes while the south has 409km by three lanes, he said.

Umahi urged Kwankwaso to withdraw his statement and apologise to Tinubu, arguing that the facts on the ground show a balanced and fair approach to national development.

“To my brother, Senator Kwankwaso, you owe our President Tinubu an apology and a duty to withdraw your statement using the information I have provided herein for the benefit of Nigerians and the unity of the nation,” he said.

“I request the good people of Nigeria to ignore Senator Kwankwaso’s misleading statement and know that President Tinubu is fairly committed to developing every part of this country with fairness, equity, and the fear of God.”

He said attempts to present the federal government as biased were politically motivated and intended to stir division.

He also accused Kwankwaso of trying to appeal to northern sentiments by portraying himself as a defender of regional interests, warning that such tactics undermine national unity.

“I consider Senator Kwankwaso’s statement as a statement made out of desperation and as part of his struggle with a few others who believe that they can inherit the impeccable legacy of our dear late President Muhammadu Buhari, and that the only way available for them towards achieving the same is to be divisive and pretentious,” he said.

“Trying to be like our late President Buhari cannot be a job of three decades and cannot be done with deceit.”

The works minister noted that other major road projects under the current administration — including the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano expressway and the Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina route — further demonstrate federal commitment to infrastructure development across the north.

Earlier on Friday, Sunday Dare, special adviser on media and communication to the president, also refuted Kwankwaso’s claim, describing it as inaccurate and unhelpful.