A prominent northern Nigerian socio-political group, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of disproportionately allocating federal resources away from the country’s northern regions, despite their significant electoral support. Speaking at a government-citizen dialogue organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna, ACF Board of Trustees Chairman Bashir Dalhatu argued that Northern Nigeria faces systemic neglect in infrastructure and agricultural funding, threatening national cohesion.
Dalhatu highlighted stark disparities in the 2025 federal budget, where the Northeast received only N24 billion (less than 1%) of the N1.013 trillion designated for road projects. He contrasted this with completed southern infrastructure like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Second Niger Bridge, stressing that no major northern highway had been finished or adequately maintained in two decades. A federal Ministry of Works report from May 2025, he noted, showed the Southwest allocated N1.394 trillion for roads, while the Northwest and Northeast received N105 billion and N30 billion, respectively. “This discrimination is no longer hidden—it’s done openly,” Dalhatu stated, urging prioritization of critical northern corridors like the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Calabar-Maiduguri highways.
Agricultural underfunding further exacerbates regional inequities, according to the ACF. Northern states, which contribute 75% of Nigeria’s landmass and 95% of its livestock, saw agriculture receive under 5% of recent federal budgets—far below the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s 25% recommendation. Dalhatu called for allocations to rise to 20%, enabling expanded support such as subsidized farming equipment. “Agriculture is our economic backbone, yet it remains neglected,” he said, warning that low investment risks destabilizing food security.
The allegations arise amid longstanding tensions over resource distribution in Nigeria, where regional imbalances often fuel political friction. The ACF’s critique is notable given the North’s pivotal role in Tinubu’s 2023 election victory. While the federal government has not yet responded, the claims underscore challenges in balancing development priorities across Nigeria’s diverse regions. Experts suggest persistent inequities could deepen socio-economic divides, complicating efforts to address insecurity and poverty in the agrarian North.
