The Presidency has rejected claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has neglected the North West region, insisting instead that the government has delivered major infrastructure and development projects across key sectors.
The clarification was made during a pre-tour media briefing in Abuja ahead of a nationwide project inspection tour by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, which will begin in Kaduna and other parts of the North West.
According to officials, the tour is intended to showcase ongoing federal projects and address public misconceptions about the administration’s performance in the region.
The Presidency highlighted several major developments, including the $2 billion Kano–Maradi standard gauge rail project linking Nigeria to the Niger Republic, which it said is about 60 percent completed.
Speaking at the briefing, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman, said the initiative aims to correct what he described as inaccurate perceptions that the North West has been left behind in federal development plans.
He stated that significant investments have been made in roads, healthcare facilities, and transportation infrastructure, including major rail developments across the region.
Rahman added that the project tour is part of efforts to present a clearer picture of government achievements over the past three years.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also emphasized the importance of public communication, noting that many ongoing projects are not widely known by citizens.
He explained that the initiative would allow journalists and stakeholders to directly assess federal projects and their impact on local communities.
Officials also provided updates on the national railway programme, describing the North West as a key hub in Nigeria’s expanding rail network.
They noted progress on the Lagos–Kano rail corridor, including the operational Abuja–Kaduna and Lagos–Ibadan segments, while work continues on the Kaduna–Kano stretch.
The Kano–Katsina–Maradi rail line, which extends into the Niger Republic, was described as one of the most significant ongoing infrastructure projects in the region, alongside a branch line connecting Kano and Dutse.
Authorities said the completion of these projects is expected to boost trade, reduce transportation costs, and ease pressure on road infrastructure across the country.
