Rabiu Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and former Kano State governor, on July 24, 2025, criticized the Bola Tinubu-led federal government for allegedly neglecting northern Nigeria while channeling resources into southern infrastructure.
Kwankwaso highlighted the deplorable condition of roads in the northern region, contrasting this with what he described as significant infrastructural advancements in the south, where Tinubu hails from. He cited his recent road journey from Abuja to Kano, calling it a “hellish” experience due to the poor state of the Abuja-Kano highway, a project initiated years ago under APC governance.
Kwankwaso argued that the national budget disproportionately favors the south, linking the north’s underdevelopment to issues like insecurity and poverty, which he said are exacerbated by resource mismanagement. His claims resonate with sentiments expressed on social media, where users have echoed concerns about regional disparities.
However, the Tinubu administration has not yet responded officially, and APC officials might counter that projects like the Lagos-Ibadan railway and southern road networks are part of a broader economic strategy, with northern initiatives like the Second Niger Bridge also underway. The narrative of neglect versus balanced development remains contentious, with Kwankwaso’s critique potentially amplifying ahead of 2027, given his political influence in Kano, though it lacks detailed budgetary evidence to substantiate the imbalance.