The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with its Renewed Hope Agenda has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to the comprehensive development of Northern Nigeria through a series of well-structured policies and projects that are already transforming the socio-economic landscape of the region.
Massive infrastructure renewal across Northern Nigeria
From massive infrastructure renewal to revolutionary agricultural interventions, enhanced security architecture, and human capital development initiatives, the federal government’s multi-sectoral approach is delivering measurable results that are improving lives and livelihoods across the 19 Northern states.
In the critical area of infrastructure development, the administration has undertaken landmark projects that are redefining connectivity and economic integration in the region. The Abuja Kaduna Kano Expressway, a vital artery connecting three major Northern commercial hubs, has seen accelerated construction with over 70 per cent completion achieved on the Kaduna-Zaria section.
The 284-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Jibiya Maradi corridor, which includes the construction of 90 kilometres of new roads in Niger Republic, is revolutionising trans-Saharan trade with daily traffic volumes increasing by 40 percent since construction began.
In the Northeast, the long abandoned 560-kilometre Maiduguri-Enugu highway is receiving urgent attention, with the first phase from Maiduguri-Makurdi now 60 per cent complete. These projects collectively employ over 15,000 local workers while creating ancillary economic opportunities for thousands more in host communities.
In Northern Nigeria, agricultural revolution boosting yields and trade
The agricultural revolution in Northern Nigeria under the administration is perhaps the most transformative intervention in decades. The National Wheat Development Programme has seen 75,000 hectares cultivated across 15 Northern states in the 2023/2024 dry season farming cycle, producing 750,000 metric tons of wheat – a 300 per cent increase from previous years.
In Jigawa State alone, 10,000 farmers received high-yield seeds and fertilisers, resulting in average yields jumping from 1.5 tonnes to 4.2 tonnes per hectare. The administration’s partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) has seen $250 million invested in seven Northern states, with Kano zone already attracting $150 million in private sector commitments for tomato and dairy processing plants.
These initiatives are complemented by the deployment of 5,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps to smallholder farmers in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, enabling year-round farming and boosting incomes by an average of 65 per cent.
Northern Nigeria: Security gains and human capital investment
Security improvements in the region have been nothing short of remarkable. The establishment of Forward Operating Bases in Birnin Gwari, Zurmi, and Shiroro has reduced banditry incidents by 60 per cent in these former hot spots.
Between January and May, 2024, military operations neutralised 1,200 terrorists, rescued 3,400 kidnapped victims, and recovered over 2,000 weapons. The innovative “peace corridor” initiative in Plateau State has reconciled 56 previously warring communities, while the new community policing framework has trained and deployed 8,000 local vigilantes across the Northwest.
These efforts have enabled 85 per cent of displaced farmers in Katsina and Kaduna to return to their farmlands, with agricultural output in these areas rebounding to pre-crisis levels.
The administration’s human capital development initiatives are laying the foundation for long-term prosperity. In education, the Alternate School Programme has enrolled 250,000 out-of-school children in 12 Northern states, while the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme now provides daily meals to 3.5 million pupils in the region. Federal government’s special scholarship scheme has awarded 5,000 Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-tertiary education grants to Northern students, with 1,200 beneficiaries currently studying in specialised fields at universities in Germany, China, and India.
Healthcare delivery has seen quantum leaps with the completion of 120 new primary healthcare centres and the equipping of 75 existing facilities across the region. The recent launch of the Northern Nigeria Telemedicine Initiative now provides remote specialist consultations to 500 rural health facilities, reducing maternal mortality by 30 per cent in pilot states.
Power infrastructure is receiving unprecedented attention, with the 700MW Zungeru Hydroelectric Plant now fully operational and supplying electricity to 1.2 million households. The administration’s partnership with Siemens under the Presidential Power Initiative has upgraded 25 substations across the North, while the new 330 Kilovolts (KV) transmission line from Kano to Katsina has improved grid stability for industrial clusters. These interventions have increased average daily power supply in Northern cities from eight to 16 hours, with Kaduna and Kano now enjoying 20-hour daily supply – a development that has spurred the establishment of 1,500 new small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in each state.
The digital economy revolution is creating new opportunities for Northern youth. The National Digital Skills’ Programme has trained 50,000 young Northerners in coding, data analysis, and digital marketing, with 60 per cent of beneficiaries already securing remote employment with global tech firms. The launch of three new technology hubs in Kano, Gombe, and Minna has incubated 120 tech start-ups that have collectively raised $5 million in seed funding. The federal government’s partnership with Galaxy Backbone has extended broadband infrastructure to 75 local government areas in the North, connecting three (3) million new users to digital
services.
A clear vision for Northern Nigeria
The administration’s commitment to inclusive governance is evident in its strengthened partnerships with Northern state governments and traditional institutions. The recent Northern Governors’ Economic Summit in Sokoto attracted $2 billion in investment commitments for the region, while the establishment of the Presidential Committee on the North-East Development Initiative has streamlined the implementation of 150 projects across the sub region. Traditional rulers now participate in monthly security briefings and play key roles in conflict resolution mechanisms, contributing to the 70 per cent reduction in farmer-herder clashes recorded in the first half of 2024.
