Bauchi chamber of commerce President decries neglect of infrastructure development in the north

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By Usman Shehu, Bauchi

Bauchi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA) has observed that northern Nigeria has been sidelined by the federal government in infrastructure development.

It expressed concern over the removal of the region from Compressed Natural Gas Presidential Initiative which would have presented a significant opportunity to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape and promote environmental sustainability.

President of BACCIMA, and former Commissioner of Information in Bauchi State, Hon. Aminu Mohammed Danmaliki, made the assertion during a press conference in Bauchi.

He explained that northern stakeholders, particularly indigenous investors and operators, have been sidelined in the process, contrary to the constitutional provision of Federal Character.

According to him, the north stands to lose in several economic opportunities and job creation while southern Nigeria benefits from job creation in mechanical conversion, fueling station management, logistics, and training.

According to him, “Northern Nigeria is in distress as it is witnessing the collapse of critical infrastructure and living with the daily consequences of unreliable electricity, broken roads, insecurity, and a generation of youths with no jobs and purposeful future or hope.

“I stand before you today not just as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, but as a son of the North, deeply concerned about the trajectory of our region. Our industries are choking. Our communities are struggling. And yet, the federal gaze seems to have turned away.

“This situation reflects a deep sense of marginalization and systematic neglect that many Northern Nigerians are feeling. But today, we say: enough is enough. We are not here to cry. We are here to lead. To propose solutions. To demand equity. And to take responsibility for shaping our own future.

“Thank God we have survived the onslaught of the Boko Haram that have killed and maimed hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, majority of whom were Muslims. The scourge of Boko Haram is not organic to our people. It is being fueled by forces outside the North, with cohorts within Nigeria led by America and their western allies which not only destroyed lives, driven away investors, but also crippled our local economies with the sole aim of destroying the North.

“Our economy cannot develop in fear. We call on the Federal Government, Intelligent Agencies and our International Partners to investigate and expose the sponsors of insecurity which the Federal Government knows them, the North must be safe for growth,” he added.

Danmaliki said, “Peace is not a privilege it is a right. Furthermore, the oil discovered in Kolmani in Bauchi State which was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari after spending billions of Dollars was thrown overboard for political reasons by President Bola Tinubu.

“In addition, the Northern Nigeria has been totally sidelined and removed from CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Presidential Initiative which present a significant opportunity to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape and promote environmental sustainability,

“CNG is part of Nigeria’s broader energy transition plan, aimed at reducing dependency on petrol and diesel by promoting cleaner, more affordable fuels. This laudable programme is only concentrated in Southern Nigeria.”

“Private Sector Growth: Entrepreneurs and SMEs in the South gain more advantages in CNG-related businesses, such as vehicle conversion workshops and fleet services. Cost of Transportation CNG is significantly cheaper than petrol or diesel. In the North, where long-distance transportation is common and costs are already high, lack of CNG access keeps transport costs high affecting prices of goods, especially food and essentials.

“Energy, Security and Environmental Impact. The North relies more on road transport for goods, so transitioning to cleaner fuels would significantly reduce emissions. Without CNG access, the region continues with high-polluting fuels,” he said.