The rating came after submissions by members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and key government officials.

They include the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu  Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa, and governors, such as Chairman Northern States Governors’ Forum, Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) and host Governor Uba Sani (Kaduna).

Part of the communiqué made available after the sessions said participants:

Summing up the outcome of the event, Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said: “The verdict from most northern opinion leaders, technocrats, and academics, amongst others, is that the Tinubu Administration is a pro-North in all ramifications – from appointments to spending on the region in infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, livestock, housing, and the unprecedented opportunity it offers for the northern youth.

“The ministers and heads of parastatals who attended the event performed creditably in communicating the achievements of President Tinubu.”

Four ministers – Atiku Bagudu (Budget and National Planning), Muhammad Ali Pate (Coordinating Minister, Health and Social Welfare), Saidu Alkali (Transportation) and Aliyu Abdullahi (Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security) took turns yesterday to reel out what the government had done.

They provided proof that the North had fared well under the Tinubu Administration.

The event served as a platform to assess the administration’s performance and renew calls for more inclusive and transparent governance.

“The Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, HE Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented the President, HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, while Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties (Office of the Vice President), represented HE Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON.

“The event brought together government officials, security agencies, civil society organisations, academics, traditional and religious leaders, private sector representatives, and development partners to deliberate on electoral promises, governance, and strategies to strengthen citizen engagement for national unity.

“In attendance, also, were the leaderships of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, led by HE Muazu Babangida Aliyu, CON and the Arewa Consultative Forum, led by Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu,

“In addition to opening remarks and goodwill messages, the Foundation acknowledged the graciousness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in sending a high-powered delegation to the interaction, continuing the tradition of engagement that began with the October 17, 2022 session, as part of engagement with the 2023 presidential candidates.

“The keynote address, delivered by Prof. Tijjani Mohammed Bande, GCON underscored critical regional and national challenges, which, he said, were not in isolation from international events.

“Citing examples with other countries, he said Nigeria has shown resilience in tackling insecurity, poverty, and educational deficits. He advised the North to develop a mechanism for negotiating its interests within Nigeria that should be anchored on holistic national development goals.

“The session also featured plenary discussions across thematic areas of national security, governance and economy, agriculture and food security, infrastructure development, and human capital development.

“Stakeholders commended the government’s high and commendable performance in fulfilling many of its electoral promises, particularly in security, infrastructure, and economic reforms.

“At the end of the exhaustive and frank conversations over the two days, the summit makes the following observations and resolutions:

•The government demonstrated openness to dialogue and continuous citizen engagement.

•The administration’s delivery of electoral promises in security, infrastructure, and economic reforms was high and commendable.

•Northern Nigeria contributes significantly to national stability, development, and electoral outcomes.

•The problem of Almajiri and out-of-school children remains a key concern of Northern Nigeria.

•Major infrastructure projects are advancing, including highways, gas pipelines (AKK), oil exploration (Kolmani), and rural irrigation schemes.

•Agricultural value chains and rural industrialisation are crucial for employment and food security.

•Strengthened federal-state collaboration is essential for regional prosperity.

•Praised the increased equitable resource availability to

•Called for increased and accelerated infrastructural development in Nigeria; strengthening of agricultural value chains, livestock development, and establishing agro-allied industries for economic diversification;

•Continued support for economic and security reforms with inclusive, community-driven, non-kinetic methods.

•Promote responsible media practices to enhance public trust and national cohesion.

•Foster regional collaboration among Northern states to drive greater interface with the federal government.

“They further call for continued collaboration among government, citizens, and all stakeholders as the surest path to peace, justice, and prosperity in Nigeria.”

Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, former Niger State Governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, called on the North elite to rise above political differences and reclaim their collective responsibility toward regional progress.

He lamented the erosion of shared values and fragmentation of leadership voices in the region, noting that, unlike in the past, today’s political class has failed to speak with one voice or uphold the legacy of unity and vision exemplified by leaders like Sir Ahmadu Bello.

“No politician from the North can claim today that we don’t have people in government.

“What we need is to own them, guide them, and ensure they act in our collective interest,” Aliyu said.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Pate, said:  “The Federal Government, through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, had disbursed over N20 billion for the funding of 4,362 PHC centres across the 19 Northern states and FCT, over the last two years.

“At least 274 projects had been executed across 35 tertiary hospitals in the Northern part of the country, serving over 4.5 million outpatients and 1.6 million inpatients.

Kaduna–Kano Rail project ready next year

Transportation Minister Alkali described the North as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Tinubu Administration’s infrastructure drive.

He assured that the Kaduna–Kano standard gauge rail project, which was at 15 per cent stage in May 2023,  would be completed next year.

According to him, the Kano–Maradi rail line had also seen massive progress, moving from five per cent to 61 per cent completion, with sections of the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri narrow gauge rail corridor also underway.

He added that the ministry has also begun the rehabilitation of the Lagos–Kano narrow gauge line to support freight movements and bring the inland dry ports into full use, particularly in Kano and Kaduna.

The minister described the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, a 1,068-kilometre  stretch linking Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states, as one of the signature projects of the government.

“The North is not left out. It is reaping big from this government’s infrastructure revolution. From roads and rail to inland ports and power, the evidence is on the ground,” Alkali said.

No more briefcase farmers, says Senator Abdullahi

“We are ensuring that only genuine farmers benefit from government programmes. No more briefcase farmers,” he declared.

The minister added that the declaration of a state of emergency on food security was still in effect, as the government continues to deploy measures aimed at increasing production, stabilising prices, and improving access to food.

“We met a food crisis and responded with data-backed, targeted actions,” Abdullahi said.

He said that the Agro-Pocket initiative alone cultivated over 133,000 hectares of wheat across 15 states in the North — exceeding the initial target of 130,000 hectares — with Jigawa accounting for over 50,000 hectares.

Abdullahi said one of the key steps taken was  the development of a farmer data audit and registry to eliminate middlemen and “briefcase contractors.”

In the livestock sector, he said, government interventions included the development of grazing reserves, livestock villages, transit shelters, and the ongoing formulation of a national dairy policy.

Abdullahi called on North’s leaders and communities to reject impostors who manipulate the system and short-change real farmers.

Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, described the Sokoto–Zaria Highway as a vital economic corridor.

He said four contractors were currently on site along the stretch.

Aregbesola, during a homecoming event on Sunday, had criticised Adeleke’s leadership style and declared that the ADC would reclaim power in the next election.

Reacting in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke described Aregbesola’s administration as the worst in Osun’s history, citing policies such as half salary payments, uncompleted projects, and the failed education tablet initiative (Opon Imo).

He accused Aregbesola of inflicting “inhumane maladministration” on Osun residents and condemned his recent comments as “the empty boast of a troubled mind haunted by his failures.”

“Within less than three years, Governor Adeleke has surpassed the eight-year record of Mr Aregbesola without borrowing a kobo,” the statement concluded.

“Mr Aregbesola is invited to note that Governor Adeleke has constructed about 200 Kilometers of roads, rehabilitated over 200 schools and health centers, placed over 30, 000 pensioners on free health insurance care, provided critical medical surgeries to over 60,000 Osun residents, Completed several abandoned projects at Osun State University, made University of Ilesa a reality among several others.

“If Mr Aregbesola is to accuse Governor Adeleke of non-performance, we await his review of the dualisation of the palace to brewery junction at Ilesa, which he failed to achieve while in office. He should check out the flyover projects at Ile Ife and Osogbo, and the dualisation projects ongoing at Iwo, among others.
Osun people know their present and past governors. Our people are smart enough to know that the worst era for Osun state is that of Mr Aregbesola, under whom many pensioners lost their lives, thousands of lives were disrupted, and the state plunged into unsustainable debt that is still hurting the state to date. No voter in Osun is ready for a return to the dark days.

“Mr Aregbesola is a shrew (Asin ti o mo pe ohun unrun) who does not know that he is smelling. 2026 is a payback time when Osun people will punish the former Governor and his new party for wilfully inflicting pains and suffering on Osun people throughout his eight years’ rule”, the statement concluded.