APC chair warns against derailment of northern economic agenda

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has cautioned against actions that could undermine ongoing efforts to transform Northern Nigeria into a major economic hub. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said the strategic investments of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are […]

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has cautioned against actions that could undermine ongoing efforts to transform Northern Nigeria into a major economic hub.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said the strategic investments of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are aimed at repositioning the region as a centre of productivity, trade, education, and infrastructure-driven growth.
He noted that the scale and coordination of federal interventions reflect a deliberate plan to unlock the North’s vast economic potential and strengthen its role within the sub-region. According to him, the region’s geographic advantage places it as a gateway to neighbouring countries such as Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin Republic.
Yilwatda highlighted ongoing investments in roads, rail, agriculture, energy, and education, stressing that these projects will boost local economies, enhance cross-border trade, and deepen regional integration.
“The vision goes beyond politics; it is a comprehensive development strategy to unlock the North’s potential. Within this administration, the region will emerge as a strong economic powerhouse,” he said.
He cited key initiatives, including rehabilitation of major road corridors linking northern states to commercial hubs, rail projects connecting cities to ports and southern markets, and investments in energy infrastructure to support industrial and rural development.
He also pointed to irrigation schemes, mechanisation programmes, and agro-processing zones designed to enhance food security and export capacity.
Yilwatda emphasised that the projects form part of a coordinated national strategy to integrate the North into global value chains and strengthen its position under the African Continental Free Trade Area.