Economy
Tinubu’s Clarification On Northern Investments, Says North Is Not Marginalised, Its Mobilised
Tinubu’s Clarification On Northern Investments, Says North Is Not Marginalised, Its Mobilised
Tinubu’s clarification on northern investments, says north is not marginalised, its mobilised. The Federal Government reiterates its deep commitment to the development and prosperity of Northern Nigeria as a core pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Recent commentaries portraying the region as neglected do not align with verifiable budgetary, programmatic, and strategic facts on the ground.
Contrary to politically motivated narratives, Northern Nigeria is not on the margins—it is at the heart of federal investment priorities. Over 50% of the capital budget for 2024 and 2025 is traceable to projects and programs in the North when major national trunk infrastructure and water basin investments are properly accounted for.
Infrastructure: Facts Over Fiction
The following flagship projects and interventions serve as tangible evidence of the administration’s commitment:
•Abuja–Kano Expressway dualization
•The ₦12.1 trillion Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, the most ambitious cross-regional road project in decades, spanning 1,068 km
•₦3.63 trillion (30%) already approved by President Tinubu for the project’s initial rollout in Sokoto and Kebbi
•Kano–Maradi Standard Gauge Railway, a Sahel trade corridor enabler
•Zungeru–Kano Power Transmission Line, boosting industrial power supply
•Funtua and Bauchi Inland Dry Ports for agro-export and logistics
•Expansion of Airport Runways in Katsina, Maiduguri, and Kaduna
Additionally, the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs)—notably Sokoto-Rima, Upper Benue, Hadejia-Jama’are, and Lower Niger—are receiving unprecedented funding for irrigation, flood control, and rural livelihoods.
Agriculture and Food Security
The North continues to anchor the nation’s food basket and is central to:
•Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZs) in Borno, Kaduna, and Kebbi
•The National Wheat Development Programme, piloted in Jigawa and Kano
•Fertilizer subsidy and dry-season farming interventions targeting over 1 million smallholder farmers.
Energy
It is important to reflect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s determination to complete and personally commission the 255MW Power Plant in the Kudenda Industrial Estate, originally initiated under the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, as well as the idle 46MW Power Plant within the Kaduna Refinery complex. Both plants are expected to come onstream upon completion of the AKK Gas Pipeline, a flagship gas infrastructure priority under the Tinubu administration.
The addition of 301MW in electricity output will be one of the defining game changers for the North’s industrial and infrastructural landscape — set to energise commercial heartlands such as Kaduna, Funtua, Kano, and other key manufacturing corridors across the region.
It is in this context that President Tinubu has directed that the InfraCorp and other relevant MDAs to realise this transformative opportunity — one that the President has silently prioritised and steadily advanced as part of his commitment to revitalising Northern industry through infrastructure and energy access.
Security and Stabilization
President Tinubu has increased funding for military operations in the Northwest and Northcentral, including Operation Hadarin Daji, Whirl Stroke, and Whirl Punch. Rural stabilization efforts through the NSA’s Office and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) are channeling over ₦60 billion into rebuilding schools, markets, and farmlands in affected areas.
Social Protection and Economic Inclusion
•Over 12 million households are enrolled in Conditional Cash Transfers, with more than 60% located in Northern states

Tinubu
•The TraderMoni and MSME Survival Fund 2.0 prioritize small businesses in Kano, Katsina, Gombe, and Zamfara
•UBEC grants and healthcare investments are targeting the hardest-hit LGAs in Yobe, Sokoto, and Niger States
Political Inclusion and Leadership
From the Vice President to key ministers in Defense, Agriculture, Budget Planning, Education, and Police Affairs, Northern leaders are not mere figureheads—they are policy drivers. They shape fiscal policy, national defense, and sectoral reforms at the highest levels.
The claim that Northern Nigeria has been marginalized is not supported by facts. What is emerging under the Tinubu administration is a strategic recalibration of national development—with the North in focus, not in retreat. As we build a Nigeria that works for all, this government remains committed to equity, accountability, and regional balance.
Yakubu is the DG of the Budget Office of the Federation.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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