Northern Nigeria in Distress: A Region Marginalized Under President Tinubu’s Administration
By Abdulwahab Muhammad Bauchi
The Northern region of Nigeria is facing an unprecedented crisis—a convergence of economic hardship, infrastructural decay, insecurity, and systemic political marginalization. This was the message delivered with urgency and clarity by the President of the Bauchi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (BACCIMA), Hon. Aminu Danmaliki, during a recent press conference in Bauchi.
Danmaliki didn’t mince words. “The North is in distress,” he said, citing the collapse of key infrastructure, unreliable electricity, deteriorating roads, and widespread insecurity. These, he noted, are compounded by the hopelessness of a generation of youth who are jobless and abandoned by a system that seems to have forgotten them.
Since the inception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Northern Nigeria has been systematically sidelined in nearly all aspects of national development. Critical economic initiatives are either halted or diverted, and strategic appointments heavily favor the South—leaving the North in political and economic limbo.
A particularly glaring example is the Kolmani oil field project in Bauchi State. Despite billions of dollars already invested and a high-profile commissioning by former President Muhammadu Buhari, the project has reportedly been shelved for political reasons. “Why has this administration done this?” Danmaliki asked. “We demand action and accountability.”
The situation is made worse by the North’s exclusion from the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative. This initiative, which holds significant potential to transform Nigeria’s energy sector and promote environmental sustainability, has shockingly left out indigenous Northern investors and operators. This, BACCIMA argues, is a clear violation of the constitutional provision of Federal Character.
But beyond pointing fingers, Danmaliki and BACCIMA are calling for solutions. They demand:
- The investigation and exposure of insecurity sponsors, who are known to the Federal Government.
- The revival and continuation of the Kolmani oil project.
- Equitable inclusion of the North in the CNG Presidential Initiative, with full access to refueling stations, training hubs, and investment opportunities.
- An end to the political marginalization of Northern leaders and professionals in federal appointments.
“Peace is not a privilege,” Danmaliki stressed. “It is a right. Our economy cannot develop in fear.”
The call is clear: The North will no longer remain silent. It demands equity, inclusion, and the chance to participate fully in Nigeria’s development. This is not a cry for pity—it is a call to justice.
End