Chairman of the NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, warned that the continued sidelining of the region in federal budgeting and infrastructure development poses grave dangers to national unity and progress.
Abdullahi highlighted the region's education crisis, stating that 80% of Nigeria's 20 million out-of-school children are from Northern Nigeria. He blamed the crisis on inadequate funding and proposed allocating half of the national budget to education.
The NEF chairman also criticized the region's road infrastructure, describing it as "the worst in the country." He proposed a bold solution, suggesting that N7.5 trillion be allocated to education and N7.5 trillion to roads in the North.
Abdullahi expressed reservations about the recent relocation of key Central Bank of Nigeria departments from Abuja to Lagos, describing the move as suspicious and divisive. He announced that the NEF will be writing to President Bola Tinubu to demand clarification on the recent appointments and policy decisions.
The NEF chairman laid out a roadmap for equitable development, emphasizing the need for industrialization in Northern Nigeria, particularly in agriculture. He urged the Federal Government to set up agro-allied processing zones across Northern states.
Abdullahi concluded by calling on Northerners to move from silence to active demand for their rights, urging political leaders, community organizations, and civil society groups to join in demanding accountability from federal policymakers.