Accusations of regional bias in Nigeria’s infrastructure spending gained new momentum on Thursday after former Kano State Governor, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, faulted the Federal Government for allegedly sidelining northern federal roads in favour of projects in the southern corridor.
Speaking at a constitution review public hearing in Kano, the 2023 NNPP presidential candidate described the current pattern of federal allocations as “one-sided” and warned that such trends could heighten regional discontent.
“From the information available to us, it’s like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country,” Kwankwaso said. “While we support development across Nigeria, the government must not abandon key regions. It is unfair to take collective resources and dump them in just one part of the country.”
His remarks come at a time when debates around fiscal federalism and equitable distribution of national wealth are intensifying, especially with increased infrastructure footprints observed in the South-East and South-South regions under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Kwankwaso’s concerns appeared to echo sentiments from many stakeholders who attended the Kano hearing, including traditional rulers, civil society groups, and northern lawmakers. Several speakers raised alarm over the state of federal roads across the North-West and North-Central zones, many of which have become impassable due to erosion, banditry, and prolonged neglect.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who also addressed the gathering, stressed the importance of inclusivity in national planning.
“Our people deserve fairness. The idea of one Nigeria must reflect in the budget and in visible development,” Yusuf said.
Political analysts suggest Kwankwaso’s intervention may carry dual significance as a regional call for equity and a strategic political statement ahead of 2027. The former Defence Minister has recently been linked to high-level political negotiations with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following a private meeting with President Tinubu in Abuja earlier in the week.
That closed-door visit, and Tinubu’s decision to skip the Kano State Government House during his trip, have sparked speculation about shifting alliances in the North and the possibility of realignments ahead of the next general election.
“It is not only about roads. It is about the message that the government sends through its actions,” Kwankwaso added. “The moment one region feels abandoned, the whole foundation of unity is at risk.”
The constitution review hearing continues nationwide, with other zones expected to raise similar issues around resource sharing, federal appointments, and structural imbalances in Nigeria’s federal system.
