By Rauf Oyewole
The Bauchi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA) has alleged that the Northern part of Nigeria is being strategically sidelined from certain presidential infrastructures development under President Bola Tinubu.
The President of BACCIMA, Aminu Danmaliki while speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, said that Northern Nigeria is in distress. According to him, “We are witnessing the collapse of critical infrastructure. We are living with the daily consequences of unreliable electricity, broken roads, insecurity, and a generation of youth with no jobs and little hope. Our industries are choking.”
Danmaliki further lamented that communities are struggling while the federal gaze seems to have turned away. Accessing the situation, he opined that it reflected a “deep sense of marginalization and systematic neglect” that many northern Nigeria are feeling.
“Today, we say: enough is enough. We are not here to cry. We are here to lead. To propose solutions. To demand equity. And to take responsibility for shaping our own future.
“Our economy cannot develop in fear. We call on the Federal Government, intelligent agencies and our international partners to investigate and expose the sponsors of insecurity which the Federal Government knows of, the North must be safe for growth. Peace is not a privilege – it is a right.”
BACCIMA also expressed dismay over the handling of Kolmani Oil Well in Bauchi and Gombe States which was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari “after spending billions of dollars was thrown overboard for political reasons by President Tinubu. Shamelessly the lifting of the oil has been denied. Why has this administration done this? We demand action and accountability.”
It further accused the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi) that Northern Nigeria has been sidelined and removed from the CNG Initiative which presents a significant opportunity to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape and promote environmental sustainability.
“It is unfortunate that Northern stakeholders, particularly indigenous investors and operators, have been sidelined in the process, contrary to the constitutional provision of Federal Character.
“CNG is part of Nigeria's broader energy transition plan, aimed at reducing dependency on petrol and diesel by promoting cleaner, more affordable fuels. This laudable programme is only concentrated in Southern Nigeria.”
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