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Tinubu Sidelining North In Budget Allocation, Infrastructure – ACF

ByOlamilekan Adigun

PublishedJuly 30, 2025

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has voiced concern over the alleged marginalisation of Northern Nigeria in federal budget allocations and infrastructure development under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse, made the claim during a two-day citizen engagement forum organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Dalhatu claimed that the region has been sidelined in critical policy decisions and project implementation despite what it called its significant electoral support for the president in the 2023 general elections.

The event, themed, “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizens’ Engagement for National Unity,” brought together governors, top federal government officials, including ministers, traditional rulers, and members of civil society

The ACF leader said that the North, which delivered over 64% of President Tinubu’s total votes, has been “largely excluded” from key governance processes.

His remarks echoed earlier criticisms from northern political figures who accused the administration of favouring the South in both federal appointments and major infrastructural developments.

Dalhatu said, “Two years into President Tinubu’s four-year tenure, the feeling among the people of the North is, to put it mildly, completely mixed.

“To our surprise, those who did not support him, did not vote for him, and hardly wished him well have emerged from nowhere and are now attempting to drive a wedge between him and the North,” Dalhatu said.

Dalhatu cited federal budget figures to underscore the region’s alleged neglect, saying “For instance, of the N1.013 trillion allocated to roads in the current federal budget, only N24 billion — less than 1% — was earmarked for projects in the North East.”

Referencing a May 2025 press release from the Federal Ministry of Works, he added: “The regional breakdown is telling — South West received N1.394 trillion, South East, N205 billion, North West, N105 billion, and North East, just N30 billion. Sadly, this discriminatory practice is not hidden — it is now done openly, without apology.”

The ACF chairman decried what he called the lack of progress on strategic northern infrastructure projects, citing neglect in roads, railways, power supply, and agriculture.

“Unlike the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway or the Second Niger Bridge, not a single road of strategic importance to the North has been completed or properly maintained in the last twenty years,” he said.

He also criticised the federal government’s low budgetary allocation to agriculture despite Northern Nigeria’s critical role in national food and livestock production.

“Despite the apparent goodwill of the Tinubu administration, budgetary allocations to agriculture remain under 5%, far below the 25% recommended by the FAO,” he said.

He called on the president to urgently review his development priorities, fast-track key infrastructure like the Mambilla Hydroelectric Dam, Baro Inland Port, and Ajaokuta Steel Mill, and address what he described as “open marginalisation” of the region.

“President Tinubu should be persuaded to declare a state of emergency in the electricity sector. Without adequate power infrastructure, the North doesn’t stand a dog’s chance of economic development,” he said.
Dalhatu stressed the need for sustained dialogue between the federal government and Northern leaders.

“We commend today’s interactive conference. Many of these issues were raised during our visit to the president on May 30, 2024. Unfortunately, the ACF-FGN Contact Committee proposed at that meeting is yet to take off,” he said.

Olamilekan Adigun

Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.