The Chairman of the Northern Christian Association (NCA), Rev. John Hayab, has acknowledged what he described as notable improvements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the North cannot honestly claim that it has not benefited from the current administration.
Hayab, however, said the Federal Government still had much more to do, particularly in tackling insecurity, hunger and poverty, which he identified as some of the most critical challenges confronting communities across the region.
Speaking on the performance of the Tinubu administration, the NCA chairman said northerners should be objective in assessing the government by recognising its achievements while continuing to demand greater action on issues affecting the people.
He specifically cited ongoing road infrastructure projects across the North as evidence of the administration’s interventions in the region.
According to him, major road corridors currently receiving attention include the Akwanga-Maiduguri, Jos-Jalingo and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari-Mokwa-Lagos routes, among others.
“Look at the roads from Akwanga that will go as far as Maiduguri. Look at the roads from Jos that will go to Jalingo. These are very serious roads,” he said.
Hayab compared the pace of infrastructure development under Tinubu with that of the immediate past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly on the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
He criticised the Buhari administration for failing to complete the road despite years of promises, noting that insecurity along the route also resulted in loss of lives.
“Buhari didn’t perform and they are doing better than his. So, why don’t you acknowledge it? Because it’s not for free. Huge money has been invested in those projects,” he said.
“Honestly speaking, all the years Buhari was in power, that Kaduna road was supposed to have been finished, but they were playing games around all that. People were losing their lives; they didn’t care. At least these ones are trying.”
The NCA chairman also pointed to developments along the Abuja-Makurdi route, saying improvements in road conditions had reduced travel time for motorists and commuters.
He added that the completion of the Mararaba flyover would further ease traffic congestion and improve movement along the corridor.
Beyond road infrastructure, Hayab said the North had also benefited from significant political representation under the Tinubu administration.
He cited the emergence of a northerner as national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as the appointment of northerners to key positions in the Federal Executive Council.
“The North is there. The North is the party chairman of his party. The North is the Minister of Information. The North is the Defence Minister. The two Defence Ministers are all from the North,” he said.
Hayab further cited developments in Southern Kaduna as evidence that some long-standing demands from the region were being addressed by the Federal Government.
According to him, the establishment of a Federal University and a Federal Medical Centre in the area represented significant interventions that should be acknowledged.
“For us in Southern Kaduna, we cannot lie that things have not improved,” he said.
He described the Federal Medical Centre as particularly important, noting that residents had demanded the establishment of such a facility for decades, including during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“And today, we have it on a platter of gold. And so, we should be able to acknowledge that, at least, things have improved,” Hayab said.
Despite his commendation of the administration, the NCA chairman stressed that acknowledging the Federal Government’s achievements should not translate into unconditional support for all of its policies.
He said northerners must continue to hold the Tinubu administration accountable, particularly over insecurity, poverty and the rising cost of living.
Hayab also urged citizens to look beyond Abuja and scrutinise the performance of state governments, especially in the utilisation of increased revenues accruing to states under the current revenue allocation arrangements.
He argued that state governments had a significant responsibility to deploy available resources toward improving the welfare and living conditions of their citizens.
According to him, the tendency to blame the Federal Government for every challenge in the North was misplaced, as state and local authorities also had important roles to play in addressing the region’s socio-economic problems.
Hayab maintained that his assessment of the Tinubu administration was based on the principle of fairness rather than political loyalty.
He said he would criticise the President whenever his administration failed the people, but would equally acknowledge positive developments when they occurred.
“They want to blame the man in Abuja. When he is bad, we will tell him. But in this case, I think he is right,” he said.
“If I do not praise them just because I don’t like them, then I’m not a good Christian. I don’t believe in that.
“But the North cannot pretend to say that it has not benefited from this government.”
Hayab’s position therefore presents a mixed assessment of the Tinubu administration: while he credited the government with increased infrastructure development and greater political representation for the North, he maintained that the administration must intensify efforts to address insecurity, hunger and poverty, which continue to affect millions of Nigerians across the region.
