The Honourable Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Yusuf Atah, has issued a sharp rebuttal to recent claims made by former Kano State Governor and 2023 NNPP Presidential Candidate, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, accusing the Tinubu administration of concentrating infrastructure development in the Southern region of Nigeria.
Responding through his media aide Seyi Olorunsola on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Kwankwaso made the accusation during the Kano Zone Constitutional Review public hearing. The former governor alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had sidelined the North in terms of infrastructural investments.
Describing the claim as “disappointing” and “unfortunate,” Atah expressed dismay that a politician of Kwankwaso’s status would make such sweeping allegations without providing a shred of data or evidence.
“These statements are politically motivated and factually inaccurate,” Atah stated. “There is no empirical basis for Engr. Kwankwaso’s claims. It is clear he is seeking political relevance, and I urge the people of Kano and Nigerians in general to ignore his divisive rhetoric.”
Minister Atah went on to highlight several critical infrastructure projects that demonstrate the Tinubu administration’s commitment to Northern development. Among them are
- The Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Dual Carriageway: A flagship road project initially launched under the Buhari administration and sustained under Tinubu, with over ₦50 billion committed by March 2025 and completion expected in 2026.
- The Kano–Maiduguri Highway: Now nearly completed, this road connects Kano to Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, and Borno, strengthening trade routes and regional integration.
- Pending Contracts: Dualization works for the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe highway and the extensive Sokoto–Lagos Superhighway, which traverse several Northern states and are designed to boost rural access and national connectivity.
Atah also pointed to President Tinubu’s April 14, 2025, commissioning of Section 2 of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road, where the President reiterated his commitment to completing major road networks linking the South and North.
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Similarly, on June 5 and 6, Tinubu virtually flagged off multiple Northern projects, including the Kano–Kongolam Road, Yakasai–Zalli rural links, and other feeder roads aimed at improving farm-to-market transportation and economic access.
The minister further highlighted an October 2024 report by the Federal Ministry of Works that 52.4% of Tinubu’s legacy road projects by kilometerage are located in the North.
Out of 82 Sukuk-funded ongoing projects, 45 are in Northern Nigeria, compared to 37 in the South. Other schemes, such as emergency intervention and road tax credit initiatives, also show a higher distribution toward Northern states.
Responding directly to Kwankwaso’s characterization of the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano highway as “deplorable,” Atah noted that the road has been under major reconstruction for nearly seven years—a period during which the former governor remained silent.
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He also challenged Kwankwaso’s authority to speak on national matters, stating:
“Engr. Kwankwaso’s political relevance is largely regional. He failed in the 2023 presidential race and lacks the national support he claims to defend.”
Atah cited the warm reception President Tinubu received during his condolence visit to the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata in Kano as proof of the president’s acceptance across the North, a clear rebuttal to any notion of regional alienation.
Minister Atah urged Nigerians to discard what he termed “political theatrics” by the former governor, reiterating that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is anchored on equity, inclusivity, and national cohesion.
“Infrastructure development under this administration is balanced and people-focused. Nigerians should unite behind President Tinubu’s vision to transform the nation for the benefit of all,” Atah stated.
