The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s record in Northern Nigeria, claiming that his administration has undertaken more road construction in the region than previous governments.
Yilwatda made the remarks on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, while receiving a delegation of the Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A) group, led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
According to a report by The Punch, the APC chairman said the Federal Government had committed significant resources to road infrastructure in the North, alongside gas infrastructure and education financing initiatives.
“There’s no government in the history of Nigeria that has constructed more kilometres of road for the North than President Bola Tinubu,” Yilwatda said.
He added that road projects under construction or already procured across Northern Nigeria covered slightly more than 3,000 kilometres, describing the figure as evidence of the administration’s commitment to the region.
However, the claim represents the APC chairman’s assessment of the government’s performance. A comprehensive comparison with previous administrations would require independently verified figures on completed roads, projects under construction, funding, and actual kilometres delivered.
Yilwatda also pointed to gas infrastructure and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as examples of initiatives he said could benefit people in Northern Nigeria. He urged leaders in the region to encourage eligible students to take advantage of the student loan scheme to improve access to higher education.
The APC chairman was also seeking stronger cooperation between the party and the Arewa for Asiwaju group ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He encouraged the group to mobilise voters across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, stressing the importance of coordinated planning and grassroots political engagement.
The group is expected to complement the party’s existing structures by promoting awareness of federal government projects and programmes across the region.
Speaking during the meeting, Shekarau said the group had identified projects and programmes implemented or initiated by the Tinubu administration that, according to him, were not widely known among residents in parts of the North.
He said the organisation intended to publicise these initiatives and challenge the perception that the region had been neglected by the Federal Government.
The former governor explained that the group had established directorates and appointed coordinators across states, local government areas and wards to support its mobilisation efforts.
He added that the initiative would work alongside the APC rather than operate as a separate political structure.
Road infrastructure is a major issue in Northern Nigeria, where transport connections are important for agriculture, trade, access to public services and movement between states.
The Federal Government has announced several major road projects, including the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Maiduguri Superhighway, a proposed 700-kilometre corridor intended to improve connectivity across parts of North-Central and North-East Nigeria. The project’s first section was flagged off in July 2026, according to the Federal Ministry of Works.
As the 2027 elections approach, infrastructure delivery and the distribution of federal projects across the country are likely to remain central to political debate.
Yilwatda’s remarks form part of the APC’s effort to highlight the Tinubu administration’s record in the North as political parties prepare for the next general election.