The Presidency has refuted allegations by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has sidelined Northern Nigeria, insisting that the region is benefitting significantly from ongoing federal investments across critical sectors.

Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor and the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), had accused the Tinubu-led government of favouring the South at the expense of the North.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ constitutional dialogue in Kano on Thursday, he cited rising poverty and insecurity in the region, as well as deteriorating infrastructure, referencing a recent road trip he made from Abuja to Kano due to a cancelled flight.

Reacting to the claims, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, described Kwankwaso’s remarks as “incorrect and misleading.”

In a post on his verified X handle on Friday, Dare outlined several ongoing federal projects in the North as evidence of the administration’s commitment to regional development.

He listed key road infrastructure projects such as the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, Kano–Kongolam Road, Kaduna–Jos Road, and the Kano–Maiduguri Dual Carriageway.

He also highlighted railway projects, including the Kaduna–Kano and Kano–Maradi rail lines, as well as the ongoing rehabilitation of the Abuja Metro.

In the energy sector, Dare mentioned the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, the Gwagwalada Power Plant, and upcoming solar projects in Kaduna State.

On agriculture, he referenced the \$158.15 million Agricultural Value Chain Development Programme currently being implemented in nine Northern states, as well as the Kolmani Integrated Development Project spanning Bauchi and Gombe states.

He added that through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) initiative, the federal government plans to restore one million hectares of degraded land across the North.

Dare also pointed to major investments in healthcare, including upgrades at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, and Federal Medical Centre in Nguru.

According to him, over 1,000 primary health centres are currently undergoing revitalisation in various northern communities.

Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, also weighed in, asserting that the Tinubu administration’s human capital investment is evenly distributed.

“The President is not playing politics with development. His footprint is visible across all zones, especially in areas historically underserved,” he said.

However, public sentiment on the ground remains mixed. A community leader in Katsina, Aminu Bello, expressed skepticism about the government’s claims.

“These projects sound impressive, but many of us are yet to feel the impact. People are still hungry and insecure. We want to see the benefits, not just hear about them,” he stated.