By Segun Adewale in Bauchi
The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, has defended the track record of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Northern Nigeria, citing a sweeping portfolio of major infrastructural and developmental projects designed to transform the region.
He said projects worth billions of naira being initiated by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) under the administration are part of the infrastructural and developmental interventions aimed at rebuilding the region.
Senator Shettima, who spoke over the weekend during the grand launch of the Bauchi Shettima Forum for Asiwaju (BASFA) held at Event Center in Bauchi State, noted that the administration had inaugurated projects worth billions of naira in Bauchi and other North-East states, with more projects scheduled for commissioning in the near future.
The Vice President, represented by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, explained that the establishment of the Ministry of Regional Development and five other commissions by the Tinubu administration is targeted at addressing the peculiar developmental needs of different regions across the country.
VP Shettima said for instance, the federal government awarded a contract for the construction of the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Borno road, describing it as a major infrastructure project expected to improve connectivity and stimulate economic activities in the state.
“Work is currently ongoing on this project, utilising modern construction techniques. It is a high-quality road being built with reinforced concrete. We are actively working on it, and I can assure you that construction will reach Bauchi town very soon,” he said.
He added that several other projects being implemented through the NEDC would be inaugurated soon, emphasising that the federal government’s interventions in Bauchi and other parts of the country demonstrate the administration’s commitment to development, and urged residents to support President Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Earlier, the convener of BASFA, Dr. Nafi’a M. Abdullahi, said the forum was established to highlight the relationship between the people of Bauchi State and Vice President Shettima, while also promoting awareness of the Tinubu administration’s policies and programmes.
She said the group believed that the federal government’s interventions in Bauchi and other parts of the North-East provided a strong basis for its campaign in support of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket for the 2027 presidential election.
Dr. Nafi’a Abdullahi highlighted several projects she attributed to the federal government, particularly in the health, education, security, and agriculture sectors.
In the health sector, she cited the establishment of a world-class diagnostic centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi.
She also said the NEDC had constructed and renovated eight major healthcare facilities across the state, including the emergency unit at ATBUTH.
The presidential aide added that work had commenced on converting the General Hospital in Alkaleri into a Federal Medical Centre (FMC), just as she said the interventions aim to improve healthcare infrastructure and expand access to medical services for residents.
The BASFA convener said the federal government had completed a student hostel at Sa’adu Zungur University, Gadau, while 1,600-bed accommodations were under construction at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU).
She explained that the NEDC had also established mega schools and renovated several educational institutions across the state.
Dr. Nafi’a Abdullahi further stated that the Tinubu administration had approved the establishment of military battalions in Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa to strengthen security and address the challenges facing communities in the state.
She said the federal government had committed substantial resources to supporting farming activities and improving food production.
She estimated the value of federal government projects and interventions in Bauchi State at N144 billion, adding that more initiatives were expected.
The convener said BASFA will continue to promote the activities of the president and vice president, particularly efforts aimed at advancing development in the North-East and the country at large.
She stated that the forum will also identify challenges affecting communities and seek practical solutions in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
