From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has declared that the economic development of Northern Nigeria remains fundamental to the nation’s prosperity.
He made this disclosure in Abuja, as he declared open the 2025 Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit (NNISS), themed, “Unlocking strategic opportunities in mining, agriculture and power.”
Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Finance and Economy, Dr Wale Edun, described the North as the engine room of the nation’s development, adding that Nigeria’s economic prosperity is inseparable from the future of Northern Nigeria.
“The North is not just a part of the country, it is the engine of the country. So together, let us seize this moment to transform Northern Nigeria into the powerhouse of Nigeria’s prosperity.
“If we unlock the North’s minerals, we will secure a new era of industrial competitiveness. If we unlock the North’s agriculture, we guarantee food security and global export leadership. If we unlock the North’s power, we ignite a wave of industrialization that will employ millions of Nigerians.”
President Tinubu noted that the Northern region accounted for 78 percent of beneficiaries of the N330 billion given to 8.1 million households under the social protection programme.
He said the funds are verifiable because each person is uniquely identified.
“There have been direct benefit transfers where over N330 billion has been provided to our 8.1 million households.
“By this one tranche of the funds, 2.4 million households have received two, and 78 percent of the beneficiary households are in the North. And this is verifiable because each person is uniquely identified.”
On September 17, the Federal Government said it disbursed up to N330 billion in direct cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households across the country as part of its revamped social protection programme.
Speaking further, Tinubu said the administration’s economic vision is to build a strong, stable and inclusive economy, where the government clears obstacles for the private sectors and provides the engine growth where every Nigerian can rise.”
He said recent reforms under his administration, including the removal of subsidies, foreign exchange unification and fiscal restructuring, have created “record resources” for states and local governments, while stabilising the economy.
“In the second quarter of 2025, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 4.23 percent, the strongest in a decade outside the COVID rebound era. Industrial growth doubled year-on-year, agriculture expanded, inflation has eased for five consecutive months to 20.12 percent, reserves are up to $42 billion, and the Naira has stabilised.
“These results are not by chance. They are the outcome of deliberate policies to restore fiscal discipline, rebuild investor confidence and replace inefficiency with transparency.
“No longer is the playing field tilted to a privileged few, Nigeria now offers a level playing field for all investors.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Convener/Chairman, Northern Elders’ Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi said Northern Nigeria lacks infrastructure to link its vast economic endowment to development.
Professor Abdullahi, who was represented by Air-Marshal Al’amin Daggash, (retd.) stressed that there must be deliberate commitment to the mining sector and its related services for government policies to deliver meaningful impact.
“The North has always been the engine room of Nigeria’s productive economy. Our challenge has always been infrastructure to link our vast resources to markets.
“We must express our continuous concern that unless the government and financial sector review their policies, businesses based in Northern Nigeria will remain disadvantaged.”
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