The Coalition of Northern Groups has launched strong criticism against the Federal Executive Council, completely rejecting the recent approval of road contracts valued at over one trillion naira. The organization describes the distribution of these projects as a clear act of regional marginalization targeting Northern Nigeria.
Stark Regional Imbalance in Funding
In a detailed statement released by National Coordinator Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the CNG presented alarming figures from their analysis of the November 6, 2025 FEC meeting. According to their assessment, which referenced media reports from The Punch and The Sun newspapers, the Tinubu administration approved ₦1.047 trillion in road contracts with what they term a blatantly uneven distribution.
The breakdown provided by Charanchi reveals a dramatic concentration of funding in Southern regions: South-West received ₦789.82 billion (75.4%), followed by South-South with ₦156 billion (14.9%). Meanwhile, Northern regions received significantly smaller portions: North-Central got ₦43 billion (4.1%), North-West received ₦30.23 billion (2.9%), South-East obtained ₦28.47 billion (2.7%), and most strikingly, North-East received zero allocation (0%).
When combined, these figures show Southern Nigeria receiving ₦974.29 billion (93%) compared to Northern Nigeria's ₦73.23 billion (7%) share. Charanchi emphasized that this 7% allocation to all 19 Northern states represents more than simple imbalance, calling it a calculated act of economic sabotage designed to worsen regional inequality.
Critical Northern Highways Excluded
The coalition highlighted several major Northern highways that were deliberately excluded from the approved contracts despite their poor condition and economic importance. Among the neglected roads listed were:
- Kano–Maiduguri highway
- Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria road
- Makurdi–Jos route
- Bauchi–Gombe highway
- Jibia–Sokoto road
- Bida–Minna corridor
CNG noted that these vital transportation arteries are on the brink of collapse and crucial for Northern economic development. The group questioned how such exclusion could occur given that Northern Nigeria hosts the country's largest landmass, longest federal road networks, highest insecurity burden, and largest population center.
Demands and Consequences
The Coalition of Northern Groups issued a stern warning that no administration can deprive an entire region of development while expecting peace, trust, or cooperation from its citizens. They characterized the current situation as intentional underdevelopment and a continuation of destructive trends that have persisted for decades.
CNG expressed particular disappointment with Northern ministers, governors, and legislators who remained silent during what they called a lopsided sharing formula. The group described this silence as betrayal and stated that if these leaders cannot defend Northern interests, they should step aside.
The coalition outlined four key demands for immediate action:
- A complete review and rebalancing of the November 6 FEC allocations
- A new legal and administrative framework guaranteeing equitable regional distribution of infrastructure funds
- A state of emergency declaration on long-abandoned Northern highways
- Full transparency in contract design and justification to prevent infrastructure colonization by a single region
The organization concluded with a powerful statement: National unity cannot survive on injustice. Peace cannot be built on inequality. Nigeria cannot be stable when one region is excessively favored while another is systematically strangled. They warned that if the pattern of regional bias continues, the consequences would be far-reaching and unavoidable, with responsibility resting squarely on those undermining national balance.
