Balancing the Conversation: Northern Projects, National Priorities.

HE. Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s recent comments on the alleged tilt of federal resources toward the South have sparked an important debate. Whether one agrees with his tone or not, his statement achieved one thing: it pushed the government to publish the real numbers and show where resources are going.

Available data shows that over 52% of ongoing federal infrastructure projects by value are in Northern Nigeria. The flagship Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway alone spanning 1,068km is budgeted at roughly ₦15.6 trillion, connecting eleven northern and central states to the Southwest trade corridor. For comparison, the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is projected at about ₦15 trillion for the entire 700km stretch. The cost difference comes from the nature of the projects. The coastal highway requires expensive marine bridges and shoreline protection, while the Sokoto–Badagry route covers vast inland terrain, heavy drainage works, and multiple long-span river crossings. Both are strategic and expensive, but they serve different national needs.

Beyond roads, the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano rail modernization is estimated at over $6 billion (around ₦9 trillion at current rates) and is one of the largest single rail investments in the country’s history. The Mambilla hydroelectric project, when fully financed, is projected at $4.8 billion, while the Zungeru power plant already delivered is valued at about $1.3 billion. These, along with the Maiduguri gas pipeline corridor and major airport upgrades in Kano and Katsina, are part of the billions of naira in active federal investment targeted at the North.

Power distribution is where some of the frustration deepens. With the partial commercialization of the electricity market, supply is increasingly tied to market dynamics and paying capacity. Northern states, where household and industrial consumption is lower and liquidity weaker, often find themselves underserved compared to more commercially active southern corridors. The result is that even where generation and transmission investments exist, the impact on ordinary households in the North is not yet matching expectations.

Security spending tells an even sharper story. Between 75% and 80% of the annual security budget is now deployed in the North-West and North-East. This covers troop operations, air support, intelligence assets, and the rebuilding of liberated communities. In fiscal terms, the North remains the single largest beneficiary of security-related federal spending.

FAAC allocations reflect this balance. In the first half of 2025, Northern states received over 48% of all FAAC disbursements to the 36 states, averaging ₦17– ₦18 billion per state monthly compared to the national average of ₦16.5 billion. Northern LGAs also take more than half of the ₦444.8 billion monthly LGA share, with most LGAs in Kano, Katsina, and Borno receiving over ₦500 million each month.

When you compare this to demographics, Northern Nigeria holds roughly 53% to 55% of the country’s population. The FAAC share of around 48% to 50% is close to that weight, showing a distribution that follows population and revenue formulas rather than clear regional neglect.

While Kwankwaso’s statement does not fully match the numbers, the real point is this: without his remarks, these figures would likely not have been brought into the open at all. His statement may have sounded harsh, but it forced a conversation the government needed to have with facts, not silence.

At the same time, the frustration behind his comments should not be ignored. The North is carrying a heavy burden from the ongoing economic reforms. Rising food prices, fuel costs, and power shortages hit harder in a region already struggling with insecurity and low income levels. For ordinary Northerners, statistics do not matter as much as their lived reality. Their pain explains why such statements resonate, even when the numbers tell a broader story.

The lesson here is not about North against South. It is about transparency, data, and fairness. Kwankwaso’s words pushed the government to speak with evidence. That is a win for public accountability.

What citizens must now demand is simple: every naira spent should deliver measurable value. Regional balance cannot be about perception or emotion alone, it must be anchored on clear facts and results for the people who feel the impact of these policies every day.

For the government, the takeaway is equally clear. Better communication is no longer optional. If data and progress are not shared openly and regularly, frustration will always fill the silence. Public trust is earned not only through projects but through honest, consistent engagement with the people.

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