By Lanre Oloyede
The Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) have dismissed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has neglected Northern Nigeria, insisting that the administration has embarked on massive infrastructural and developmental projects across the region in fulfilment of campaign promises made to the North.
In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Tunde Rahman, the group said the Tinubu administration had demonstrated commitment to the North through interventionist projects currently at various stages of completion.
The RHA disclosed that the Federal Government, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, initiated 260 Special Intervention Projects nationwide through the Federal Ministry of Works, with the Northwest zone accounting for 48 projects — the highest among the six geopolitical zones.
“This is evidence of President Tinubu’s commitment to the development and transformation of the Northern region. These intervention projects will aid transportation, boost trade and agriculture, and foster speedy economic growth,” the statement said.
The group made the assertion following a tour of Federal Government projects across the Northwest geopolitical zone conducted in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team.
Among the projects inspected was the ongoing reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway, where construction work featuring 20-centimetre-thick concrete pavement and solar-powered streetlights is ongoing.
According to the group, the 82-kilometre Section One of the road from Zuba Junction to beyond Jere is almost completed except for a 300-metre stretch, while work has commenced on Section Two with delivery expected by November this year.
In Kaduna State, the delegation inspected the long-abandoned Kaduna Western Bypass project, which had reportedly been stalled for more than 22 years before work resumed under the current administration.
The 21-kilometre dual carriageway project is said to be about 50 per cent completed with no funding constraints.
The group also toured the Kaduna-Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project, described as one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects currently under construction in Northern Nigeria.
According to the RHA, the rail line will connect several Northern states to neighbouring Niger Republic and is expected to boost transportation, agriculture, and regional trade.
Construction work on the flyover bridge linked to the trans-Sahara railway project in Kaduna is expected to be completed by December 2026.
In Kano State, the group said the Kano axis of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway had reached about 95 per cent completion.
The delegation also inspected projects at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, including a Cardiovascular Centre, Paediatric Centre, and students’ hostel projects linked to the constituency interventions of Deputy Senate President, Senator Jubril Barau.
Other projects inspected in Kano include a N27 billion irrigation project in Garko funded through the Ecological Fund Office, a solar energy project by the Energy Commission of Nigeria, and a 10-hectare Agricultural Incubation Centre developed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure at Bayero University, Kano.
The group further visited the newly established headquarters of the North West Development Commission in Kano, describing it as part of the Tinubu administration’s regional development strategy.
The statement also highlighted another ecological intervention project worth N47 billion in the Wujuwuju-Jakara axis of Kano, initially initiated by the Kano State Government as an erosion control project before it was reportedly taken over by the Federal Government.
In Jigawa State, the RHA stated that the Jigawa section of the Kaduna-Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project was nearing completion.
Similarly, work was said to be progressing steadily on the Kebbi section of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway covering Phases 2A and 2B between kilometre 120 and kilometre 385.
The group noted that site clearance, filling works, stone base installation, sub-surface works, and concrete pavement construction had advanced considerably, with 19 kilometres already completed alongside streetlight installation.
According to the RHA, Section 2A of the project has reached 40 per cent completion while Section 2B stands at 16 per cent.
“With these projects among others under construction and at various stages of completion in the Northwest and across the entire Northern region in just three years of the Tinubu administration, the development of the North seems assured,” the statement added.
The group accused critics of ignoring visible infrastructure projects on the ground for political reasons ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Seeing is believing; those alleging the present government has not been fair to the North in terms of development projects can also go round and see for themselves,” the statement said.
“There is no doubt that the Tinubu administration has kept faith with the North. The agitation to the contrary is either from those still writhing in disbelief because of 2027 politics or part of the machinations of opposition politicians.”
