ACF BOT Chairman, Bashir Dalhatu, Accuses Tinubu Administration of Marginalising the North at Arewa House Interactive Session
By Usman A Harande, Public Eye News | July 2025 | Kaduna
KADUNA – In a bold and deeply reflective address delivered at an interactive session between Northern civil society leaders and senior officials of the Tinubu administration, Alhaji Bashir M. Dalhatu, the Wazirin Dutse and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), voiced strong concerns over what he described as “glaring marginalisation” of Northern Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.
The interactive session, which held at the historic Arewa House in Kaduna, was designed to promote dialogue between the federal government and Northern stakeholders. However, the tone of Dalhatu’s speech highlighted a profound sense of dissatisfaction among Northern leaders regarding the direction of national governance since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
Dalhatu reminded the gathering that this was not the first interface with the Tinubu camp. On 17 October 2022, before the elections, ACF and other Northern stakeholders hosted then-candidate Tinubu at this same venue, where they presented a detailed document of the North’s pressing challenges. In response, Tinubu also offered his commitments in writing.
That dialogue, Dalhatu said, was followed by a formal submission of a comprehensive memorandum to President Tinubu on 30 May 2024, outlining strategic priorities for the North. But two years into Tinubu’s tenure, he lamented, “the North has seen little to no visible policy attention” from the administration despite the fact that 64% of Tinubu’s 8.8 million total votes—over 5.6 million came from the North.
“Those who did not vote for him or wished him well have now taken centre stage, pushing a wedge between the President and the North,” Dalhatu observed.
Key Areas of Neglect Highlighted:
Dalhatu’s speech outlined 11 critical sectors where the North has been left behind:
- Insecurity:
Dalhatu described insecurity as the number one concern, citing rampant killings, kidnappings, and terrorism across most Northern states. He said without addressing the root causes such as youth unemployment and deepening poverty lasting peace cannot be achieved. - Agriculture:
Despite Northern Nigeria contributing over 75% of Nigeria’s landmass and 95% of the livestock industry, federal allocations to agriculture remain under 5% of the total budget, far below the 25% FAO benchmark. The current policy of duty-free food importation, he added, is already collapsing local agro-industries, leading to massive job losses. - Transport Infrastructure (Roads & Waterways):
Dalhatu listed a dozen federal roads of strategic importance to the North that are either abandoned or underfunded. He criticised the skewed allocations, noting that while over ₦1 trillion was allocated for roads in 2025, only a fraction reached the Northeast (₦24 billion). He also called for full revitalisation of the Baro Inland Port, citing its potential to transform Northern commerce. - Electricity Supply:
He called on the President to declare a state of emergency in the power sector and prioritise the completion of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Project and the AKK Gas Pipeline to support industry in the North. - Education:
With over 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria—80% of them in the North, Dalhatu called for a relaunch of the UBE scheme, massive recruitment and welfare improvement for teachers, and special programmes for children of nomads and itinerant workers. - Healthcare System:
He decried the poor state of health interventions in the North, with diseases like cholera, leprosy, and tuberculosis still prevalent. He urged stronger action on drug abuse, access to clean water, and renewed funding for disease control programmes, especially in light of dwindling foreign aid. - Ajaokuta Steel Project:
Dalhatu slammed the federal government for failing to match its rhetoric with action, calling for urgent injection of $2 billion to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Mill, which has potential to create 500,000 indirect jobs. - Oil and Gas Exploration in the North:
He urged President Tinubu to honour his pledge to continue oil exploration in Northern basins such as Kolmani (Gombe), Keana (Nasarawa), and the Chad Basin, where large deposits of gas and oil have already been discovered. - Skewed Federal Budgets and Project Allocations:
Using figures from the Federal Ministry of Works, Dalhatu painted a stark picture of regional disparities in funding:
Southwest: ₦1.394 trillion
Southeast: ₦205 billion
Northwest: ₦105 billion
Northeast: ₦30 billion
In contrast, projects like the Lagos-Calabar Highway (₦15 trillion) and Lekki Coastal Road (₦978 billion) received overwhelming support. The North, he said, is “facing open, unapologetic neglect.”
- President Tinubu’s Insensitivity:
He accused the Tinubu administration of “a toxic mix of sectionalism, partisanship, and cronyism” in policy and appointments. However, Dalhatu clarified that the ACF’s criticism is “constructive, not mischievous,” referencing the Hausa adage: “Gyara kayanka bai zama sauke mu raba ba” (Fixing your item doesn’t mean we must split). - Communication Breakdown and Failed Contact Committee:
Dalhatu expressed disappointment over the non-functionality of the ACF-FGN Contact Committee proposed by Tinubu, suggesting the current forum should transition into a standing committee to strengthen engagement.
ACF Echoes Kwankwaso’s Warnings
Observers say this speech echoes similar concerns raised by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former Kano Governor and NNPP Presidential candidate, who has repeatedly accused the Tinubu administration of neglecting the North despite its electoral support.
Both Kwankwaso and the ACF now appear united in their belief that the North has been shortchanged in federal policies, appointments, and developmental priorities, despite its loyalty at the polls.
Final Word
The interactive session ended with calls for constructive re-engagement, not conflict. But Dalhatu’s message was unmistakable: if Northern Nigeria’s longstanding grievances continue to be ignored, the region’s faith in the federal government and its unity will be severely tested.
📌 Public Eye News will continue to monitor the outcomes of this high-stakes meeting and other efforts to bridge the gap between the North and the presidency.
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