The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has expressed concerns that restoring fuel subsidy in Nigeria could worsen poverty in the North. He made this statement on Monday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja while receiving former African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidates who defected to the ruling party. Yilwatda questioned how the government would fund ongoing projects if subsidy payments resumed, citing potential impacts on road construction and other infrastructure projects across the country.
Yilwatda criticised opposition calls to restore fuel subsidy, highlighting the government's gas and fertiliser initiatives, as well as the student loan scheme, which have benefited many Northerners. He argued that the North could face increased poverty if the region returned to the financial conditions that existed before the current administration, citing unpaid salaries and gratuities in several northern states before 2023. Yilwatda warned against policies that could worsen the situation.
The APC chairman also rejected claims that President Bola Tinubu's administration has neglected the North. He cited ongoing road projects linking major northern cities as evidence of federal investment in the region, including the Abuja-Kano and Kano-Maiduguri roads, as well as projects linking Jos to Akwanga, Kwara to Mokwa, Sokoto to Kebbi, Kano to Daura, and Zaria to Illela. He said work on the Abuja-Kano road was nearly complete, while the Kano-Maiduguri road had reached about 50 per cent completion.
Yilwatda addressed the defectors, urging them to return to their wards and register as APC members after submitting their resignation letters to the ADC. He asked them to strengthen the party at the polling-unit level, saying elections ultimately depend on votes cast at individual polling units. The defectors, led by Princess Aslam Aliyu, also known as Gimbiyar Kauran Namoda, contested various State Houses of Assembly seats in the North.
The APC chairman defended Tinubu's record of political inclusion, citing appointments and leadership positions given to people from different parts of Nigeria during Tinubu's tenure as Lagos State governor. He contrasted this with the records of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso as former governors of Anambra and Kano states, respectively. Yilwatda challenged opposition figures to identify commissioners from outside their states who served in their cabinets.
Mohammed Hassan, an ADC candidate from Zamfara State, said they joined the APC to support President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda ahead of the 2027 election. Yilwatda's comments come as the country prepares for the 2027 election, with various stakeholders debating the best approach to address poverty and economic challenges in Nigeria.
Yilwatda's warning on fuel subsidy has sparked reactions from various quarters, with some stakeholders calling for a review of the current economic policies. The APC chairman's position reflects the complexities of Nigeria's economic challenges and the need for sustainable solutions to address poverty and promote economic growth.
Key points
- APC Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda warns that restoring fuel subsidy could worsen poverty in Northern Nigeria.
- Yilwatda cites ongoing road projects in the North as evidence of federal investment in the region.
- The APC chairman defends President Bola Tinubu's record of political inclusion.
