Group Hails Tinubu, Governors' Partnership in North-West Development Projects

The Tinubu–Uba Sani Consolidation Forum (TUSCOF) has praised the increasing collaboration between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration and the seven North-West state governments. This partnership, along with international development partners, aims to accelerate socioeconomic development across the region through strategic programs and interventions. TUSCOF's National Chairman, Malam Mohammed Jalal Sada, and Director of Media and Publicity, Nasir Dambatta, jointly signed a statement highlighting the importance of this cooperation.

TUSCOF identified several nationwide interventions that offer opportunities for coordinated development across Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states. These include the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Compact, HOPE-GOV, HOPE-EDU, HOPE-PHC, the Universal Basic Education matching-grant framework, and the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) program. The group noted that these initiatives provide a framework for addressing shared regional challenges and improving citizens' quality of life.

The North-West region is also benefiting from major infrastructure and agricultural initiatives. The Kaduna–Kano–Jigawa–Katsina–Maradi Railway Project, the North-West Development Commission's regional agricultural transformation framework, and the SPIN irrigation program are some of the notable projects. These initiatives identify specific schemes across all seven states, including the Gari Irrigation Project in Jigawa State and the Jakara irrigation scheme in Kano State.

In Jigawa State, TUSCOF highlighted the Federal Government's railway infrastructure intervention, particularly the Kano–Dutse corridor, as a significant connectivity project. The state's Warwade irrigation scheme is also listed under the SPIN program. Kano State features prominently in the regional infrastructure agenda, with the Federal Government's Renewed Hope City housing project comprising 1,500 housing units. The Federal Government has also announced plans to support light rail development in Kano.

TUSCOF noted that Katsina State is benefiting from development partnerships involving the National Agricultural Development Fund, OCP Africa, The Infrastructure Bank, and the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority. These partnerships aim to establish a 50-hectare all-season demonstration farm at Sabke Dam, promoting year-round farming and agricultural training. The state is also part of the SPIN program, with the Danja irrigation scheme being a notable project.

Kaduna State has been identified as an important development hub in the North-West, with a growing portfolio of strategic Federal–State partnerships. These partnerships span education, healthcare, agricultural industrialization, enterprise development, transportation, and electricity infrastructure. TUSCOF highlighted the Reaching Out-of-School Children program, involving the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government, and international development partners, as a significant intervention aimed at expanding educational access.

The Forum also welcomed the Federal–State agreement to convert the Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital in Kafanchan into a Federal Medical Centre. This proposed transition is seen as an opportunity to strengthen specialist healthcare delivery and improve access to advanced medical services in Southern Kaduna and neighboring communities.

Key points

• The Tinubu–Uba Sani Consolidation Forum praises the growing cooperation between President Tinubu's administration and North-West state governments.
• The partnership aims to accelerate socioeconomic development across the region through strategic programs and interventions.
• Kaduna State has been identified as an important development hub in the North-West, with a growing portfolio of strategic Federal–State partnerships.