Bauchi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA) has alleged seclusion of the North in certain presidential infrastructure development under President Bola Tinubu.

The President of BACCIMA, Aminu Danmaliki, while speaking at a press briefing, yesterday, said Northern Nigeria was in distress.

He said: “We are witnessing the collapse of critical infrastructure. We are living with
the daily consequences of unreliable electricity, broken roads, insecurity and
a generation of youths with no jobs and little hope. Our industries are choking.”

Danmaliki further lamented that communities were struggling, while the federal attention seemed to be somewhere else.

He opined that it reflected a “deep sense of marginalisation and systematic neglect” that many northern Nigeria were feeling, saying:
“Today, we say: enough is enough.

We are not here to cry; we are here to lead, propose solutions, demand equity, and take responsibility for shaping our own future.”

“Our economy cannot develop in fear. We call on the Federal Government, intelligence agencies and our international partners to investigate and expose the sponsors of insecurity, which the Federal Government knows of. The North must be safe for growth. Peace is not a privilege, it is a right.”

BACCIMA also expressed dismay about the handling of the Kolmani Oil Well in Bauchi and Gombe states, which was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, after spending billions of dollars, which was thrown overboard for political reasons by President Tinubu. Shamelessly, the lifting of the oil has been denied. Why has this administration done this? We demand action and accountability.”

He further alleged that Northern Nigeria has been sidelined and removed from the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi), which was a significant opportunity to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape and promote environmental sustainability.

“It is unfortunate that Northern stakeholders, particularly indigenous investors and operators, have been sidelined in the process, contrary to the constitutional provision for Federal Character.

“CNG is part of Nigeria’s broader energy transition plan, aimed at reducing dependency on petrol and diesel by promoting cleaner, more affordable fuels. This laudable programme is only concentrated in Southern Nigeria.”