Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, has said that the Northern region has witnessed unprecedented infrastructural growth under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on Saturday at the unveiling of a scholarship award for 1,000 undergraduates in Kano, funded by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, Ata dismissed claims that President Tinubu’s government is neglecting the North.
According to the minister, Kano and other Northern states have benefited from numerous political appointments and federal projects, in some cases more than states in the South where the President hails from.
He highlighted several housing initiatives approved by the President, including the Renewed Home Estate Programme, which provides for the construction of 250 houses in each state.
Ata disclosed that beyond the original allocation, President Tinubu approved an additional 500 housing units for Kano State, alongside projects in Katsina and Sokoto.
“Tinubu has brought so many projects to Kano State. In the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, we are currently undertaking numerous programmes. With the additional 500 housing units for Kano, this administration is directly addressing the housing deficit in the region,” Ata said.
He added that President Tinubu’s support for Senator Jibrin has accelerated social, economic, and human capital development in the state, countering what he described as “propaganda” against the President.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, represented by Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, said the scholarship intervention was part of his effort to invest in human capital development and secure a better future for young people.
Sumaila also provided the 1,000 beneficiaries with N20 million for transportation and urged them to remain committed to their studies and be good ambassadors of Kano State.
Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Haruna Musa, called on politicians to set aside personal interests and work together to address the education crisis and prevent future security challenges posed by out-of-school youth.
