Tinubu’s minister slams Kwankwaso over claim on ‘Northern neglect’, says his influence ends in Kano

The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Atah, has strongly criticized former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso over remarks alleging that the Federal Government has sidelined the North in its infrastructure agenda.

Kwankwaso, speaking at the Kano Zone Constitutional Review public hearing on July 24, 2025, accused the Bola Tinubu administration of prioritizing infrastructure development in “a certain part of the country,” an apparent reference to the Southern region.

Describing the comments as both “disappointing” and “unfortunate,” Minister Atah said such sweeping statements were unbecoming of a statesman, especially in the absence of data or credible evidence.

In a statement released Friday through his aide, Seyi Olorunsola, Atah asserted that there is no factual basis for Kwankwaso’s claims. He accused the former governor of attempting to regain political relevance and advised Nigerians to disregard his comments.

“Contrary to the claims, the Minister insists that infrastructure deployment across the North under this administration is significant and demonstrable. Key highlights include:”The Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano dual carriageway, initiated under the Buhari administration and vigorously continued under President Tinubu—with substantial monthly funding mobilised in 2024. By March 2025, over N50 billion had been committed, and the project is scheduled for completion in 2026.”The Kano–Maiduguri dual carriageway, now essentially completed, linking Kano to Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states, enhancing trade corridors and regional integration.”Pending and awarded contracts for dualisation of strategic corridors such as the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe highway, and the massive Sokoto–Lagos Superhighway. These corridors span multiple Northern states and address rural access and economic linkage.

“In addition, the President himself has restated commitments to nationwide infrastructure inclusivity:”On April 14, 2025, at the inauguration of Section 2 of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano corridor, Tinubu reaffirmed his vision to complete critical road infrastructure projects across Nigeria, explicitly citing the vital link between South and North connectivity.”On June 5 and 6, 2025, he virtually flagged off key Northern road projects—such as the Kano–Kongolam Road, Yakasai–Zalli links, and rural access roads—underscoring that these are designed to boost economic productivity, farm-to-market logistics, and integration.”Moreover, according to findings published in October 2024 by the Federal Ministry of Works, over 52.4% of Tinubu’s legacy road projects by kilometerage are located in Northern Nigeria. Of 82 Sukuk-funded ongoing projects, 45 are in the North versus 37 in the South. Emergency intervention and road tax-credit schemes likewise show a higher distribution of infrastructure deployment in Northern states.

“Minister Atah thus categorically rejects Engr. Kwankwaso’s claim about a “deplorable” state of the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano highway. He points out that the road has been under reconstruction for nearly seven years, during which Kwankwaso remained silent,” the statement said.

The minister also questioned the credibility of the former presidential candidate, stating that his political influence is “largely confined to the Kano area.”

He contrasted Kwankwaso’s position with what he described as the warm reception President Tinubu received in Kano during a condolence visit to the family of the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata. This, Atah said, reflected broader national support for the president across regional lines.

Atah urged Nigerians to “disregard the political theatrics” and continue backing the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which, he said, is rooted in equity, fairness, and national unity.