By Sani Adamu Hassan
The President of the Bauchi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA), Hon. Aminu Mohammed Danmaliki, has issued a bold call for equity, infrastructural development, and security for Northern Nigeria, decrying what he described as systemic neglect and marginalization by the Federal Government.
He made these remarks during a press conference held at the Malikiya College Conference Hall in Bauchi.
Speaking passionately, Danmaliki expressed deep concern over the region’s worsening infrastructure, economic stagnation, and rising insecurity. “Northern Nigeria is in distress,” he declared. “Our industries are choking, our roads are broken, and our youth are unemployed and hopeless.”
Danmaliki criticized the federal authorities for what he termed a deliberate abandonment of the region, accusing them of ignoring vital developmental projects that would otherwise stimulate the economy of the North. “The federal gaze has turned away. But today, we say enough is enough,” he said.
The BACCIMA President linked the region’s underdevelopment to national and international conspiracies. “The scourge of Boko Haram is not organic to our people,” he stated. “It is being fueled by forces outside the North, with cohorts within Nigeria led by America and their western allies, aiming to cripple our economy and destroy the North.”
Danmaliki further condemned the halting of oil exploration activities in Kolmani, Bauchi State, which had been commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He questioned President Tinubu’s administration’s refusal to continue the project, calling it a political sabotage against Northern interests.
On the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Presidential Initiative, Danmaliki criticized the exclusion of Northern stakeholders, warning that the lack of CNG infrastructure in the North would worsen the economic disparity between the regions. “It’s unfortunate that Northern indigenous investors have been sidelined,” he said, “contrary to the Federal Character principle.”
He outlined several consequences of the CNG exclusion, including missed economic opportunities, high transportation costs, and strategic marginalization. “It costs a southerner N3,000 to travel 150km using CNG, but it costs a northerner N40,000 for the same distance using petrol,” he lamented.
Danmaliki demanded that the Federal Government establish at least three CNG refueling and conversion centers per geopolitical zone in the North within the next 12 months. He also called for the inclusion of Northern representatives in the national CNG Steering Committee to ensure regional balance.
Another issue raised was the exclusion of the entire Northeast from the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) program. Danmaliki described it as “criminal,” adding that the North has the potential to be a powerhouse in agriculture if given the necessary support.
He also highlighted the long-abandoned dredging of the River Niger, blaming political bias for the delay. “If completed, it would have drastically reduced transport costs and created over two million jobs,” he emphasized, referencing statements made by past leaders and experts.
The stalled Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in Taraba State also featured prominently. Danmaliki expressed outrage over the lack of progress, attributing it to legal hurdles that would have been resolved if the project were located in Southern Nigeria. “The Senate has called for its integration into the Renewed Hope Agenda, yet nothing has been done,” he noted.
Addressing the broader issue of insecurity, Danmaliki alleged that both internal and external actors are funding terrorism to destabilize the region. “We demand a full investigation into the sponsors of terror and immediate coordinated military and economic responses,” he said.
To combat these challenges, Danmaliki announced the formation of a “Northern Business Council,” a coalition of chambers of commerce, traditional institutions, and stakeholders across the 19 Northern states. “Our survival and growth require internal mobilization, strategic alliances, and long-term planning,” he said.
He proposed a comprehensive Northern Development Agenda that includes renewable energy investment, agro-processing, education reform, infrastructure financing, and inclusive political strategies. “We are not here to beg. We are here to build,” Danmaliki declared.
Concluding his speech, Danmaliki appealed to governors, legislators, traditional rulers, and the business community to rally behind the movement for a new, prosperous North. “This effort is dedicated to our youth and women whose future has long been compromised. Join us in building a better future,” he urged.
