The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has warned that any attempt to restore fuel subsidy would negatively affect ongoing development projects in Northern Nigeria. Yilwatda made this statement while receiving former candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who defected to the ruling party. He argued that returning to fuel subsidy would reduce government revenue available for critical projects, including road construction, gas development, and fertiliser initiatives.
Yilwatda expressed concerns about the feasibility of returning the subsidy, questioning how it would be implemented. He cited ongoing road projects across the region, including the Abuja-Kano and Kano-Maiduguri corridors, arguing that the scale of federal infrastructure investment in the North showed that the region was benefiting from current policies. The APC chairman emphasised that the region would be negatively impacted if these projects were halted due to the restoration of subsidy.
The APC chairman also questioned whether restoring subsidy would affect other programmes, including gas projects, fertiliser supply, compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives, and student loan schemes. He argued that these programmes were crucial to the development of the North and that halting them would have adverse effects on the region. Yilwatda cited the example of fertiliser supply, which is essential for farming in the North.
Yilwatda defended the administration’s record in the North, rejecting claims that the region had been neglected. He listed several ongoing projects, including roads linking Abuja to Kano, Kano to Maiduguri, Jos to Akwanga, Sokoto to Kebbi, Kano to Daura, and Zaria to Danja. The APC chairman emphasised that these projects demonstrated the administration’s commitment to the development of the North.
The removal of fuel subsidy had helped states regain financial stability, Yilwatda recalled. He noted that several states, particularly in the North, struggled to pay salaries before the Tinubu administration came into office. The APC chairman argued that the current policies had helped to improve the financial situation of states and that restoring subsidy would undermine these gains.
The warning came as the APC welcomed former ADC candidates into its fold ahead of the 2027 general elections. The defectors, led by Princess Aslam Aliyu, popularly known as Gimbiyar Kauran Namoda, said their decision was based on a desire to contribute to the development agenda of the ruling party. Mohammed Hassan, an ADC candidate from Zamfara State, spoke on behalf of the group, saying they were joining the APC to support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Yilwatda urged the defectors to return to their states and local government areas to strengthen the party’s structures ahead of the 2027 elections. He emphasised the importance of building a strong party foundation to achieve electoral success. The APC chairman welcomed the defectors and expressed confidence that their addition would strengthen the party.
Key points
- APC chairman warns that restoring fuel subsidy would negatively impact development projects in Northern Nigeria.
- Yilwatda questions feasibility of returning subsidy and its potential impact on programmes like gas projects and fertiliser supply.
- APC welcomes former ADC candidates into its fold ahead of the 2027 general elections.
