The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on the people of the Northern Nigeria to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, insisting that the administration’s ongoing investments in the region are aimed at transforming the North into a major economic hub in West and Central Africa.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said the scale of Federal Government interventions across infrastructure, agriculture, education, and energy demonstrates Tinubu’s commitment to repositioning the North for sustainable growth and regional competitiveness.
He noted that the North, because of its strategic location and vast economic potential, is well positioned to serve as a gateway for trade and economic integration with neighbouring countries, including Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin.
According to him, ongoing road and rail projects, investments in power infrastructure, and efforts to boost agricultural production would stimulate commerce, deepen regional trade, and make Northern Nigeria a commercial nerve centre for the sub-region.
“The vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Northern Nigeria goes beyond politics; it is a well-thought-out economic and developmental strategy aimed at unlocking the vast potential of the region.”
“Within the lifetime of this administration, the North will emerge as a strong economic powerhouse driven by infrastructure, human capital development, and strategic investments,” Yilwatda said.
The APC chairman highlighted major federal projects, including the rehabilitation and expansion of key road corridors linking Northern states to commercial centres, ongoing rail modernisation projects connecting Northern cities to ports and Southern markets, and investments in energy infrastructure to improve electricity supply to industries and rural communities.
He also pointed to the development of agricultural value chains through irrigation projects, mechanisation support, and agro-processing zones aimed at enhancing food security and export capacity.
Yilwatda said the initiatives are part of a broader national strategy to integrate the North into global value chains and strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
On education, he described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a landmark intervention that would improve access to tertiary education for youths in the region.
According to him, the scheme would eliminate financial barriers that have prevented many qualified students from pursuing higher education, thereby creating a more skilled and competitive workforce.
“Education is the backbone of sustainable development. With NELFUND, the children of the North now have a clear pathway to tertiary education regardless of their socio-economic background,” he stated.
The APC chairman further said the Tinubu administration is prioritising food security through large-scale farming initiatives, livestock development, access to financing for farmers and agribusinesses, as well as the revitalisation of dams and irrigation infrastructure.
He added that improved security measures are gradually restoring confidence among farmers and boosting agricultural productivity across the region.
Yilwatda urged traditional rulers, political leaders, youths, business groups, and civil society organisations in the North to support the Tinubu administration in implementing its development agenda.
He warned against what he described as the activities of self-serving politicians whose ambitions could undermine ongoing progress.
“This is a defining moment for the North and for Nigeria. We must not allow narrow personal interests to truncate a historic opportunity for regional transformation,” he said.
The APC chairman also described Tinubu as a resilient democrat who played a key role in the struggle against military rule during the era of late Head of State, Sani Abacha.
He criticised opposition parties for what he called a lack of cohesion and credibility, arguing that their internal crises cast doubt on their ability to govern the country effectively.
“They cannot organise or administer their own political parties, yet they aspire to lead a complex nation like Nigeria,” he stated.
Yilwatda maintained that the Tinubu administration’s development agenda for Northern Nigeria remains unprecedented in scope and impact, assuring that the APC would continue to pursue policies aimed at economic growth and long-term prosperity for the region.
