The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has expressed strong optimism about the economic future of Northern Nigeria, citing sweeping investments by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at repositioning the region as a major hub for trade, agriculture, and industrial growth.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Yilwatda said the scale and coordination of ongoing federal projects reflect a deliberate strategy to unlock the North’s vast economic potential and elevate its role within West and Central Africa.
He noted that the region’s geographic advantage places it in a strategic position to serve as a gateway for cross-border commerce with neighboring countries such as Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin, adding that current initiatives are designed to strengthen that advantage.
According to the APC chairman, key infrastructure projects—including the expansion of major road networks, modernization of rail lines, and investments in energy—are already laying the foundation for increased productivity and improved connectivity between Northern states and key commercial centers across the country.
“These interventions are not isolated,” he said. “They are part of a comprehensive national plan to integrate the North into broader regional and global value chains.”
Yilwatda also highlighted renewed attention to agriculture, describing it as central to the region’s economic revival. He pointed to ongoing efforts to support large-scale farming, improve irrigation systems, and enhance access to financing for farmers and agribusinesses. These measures, he said, are expected to boost food security and position the North as a leading exporter of agricultural products.
On education, he described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a transformative initiative that will expand access to higher education for young people in the region, helping to build a skilled workforce capable of driving long-term growth.
The APC chairman called on political leaders, traditional institutions, and the private sector to support the administration’s development agenda, stressing that collective effort would be essential to sustaining progress.
“This is a defining moment for Northern Nigeria,” he said. “With unity of purpose and sustained commitment, the region can emerge as a powerful engine of economic growth not only for Nigeria but for the African continent.”
He reaffirmed the ruling party’s commitment to delivering tangible improvements in infrastructure, livelihoods, and opportunities, expressing confidence that the current trajectory would yield lasting benefits for millions of Nigerians
