VP Shettima: The North Shouldn’t Be Associated with Poverty

Vice President Kashim Shettima has dismissed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is neglecting Northern Nigeria, emphasizing that the region should not be associated with poverty, given its abundant resources and blessings.

In an interview with Radio France International (RFI) Hausa, monitored by a correspondent in Kaduna on Sunday, Shettima defended the government’s actions, stating that the North is a priority for the administration.

He acknowledged the recent protests, stating, “We are in a democracy, and every citizen has the right to express grievances peacefully. However, we must guard against politicians with bad intentions or hoodlums who could incite chaos. What happened recently was unfortunate and troubling for both society and the government.”

Regarding the challenges facing the Northern region, Shettima emphasized that the government is committed to addressing them. “The government has good intentions to help our people in the North,” he said. “We’ve allocated ₦100 billion to support agriculture, aiming to assist 500 million farmers, most of whom are in the North. Additionally, the President has established the Ministry of Livestock to support the region, and we’ve released 42,000 tons of food to mitigate the high cost of living.”

Shettima also highlighted the recent increase in the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 as part of the government’s efforts to alleviate hardship. “We know our people are suffering, and we are committed to doing everything possible to help them,” he added.

Responding to allegations that the Tinubu administration favors the South over the North, Shettima dismissed such claims as politically motivated. “Out of 46 ministers, 24 are from the North,” he noted, listing several key ministries headed by Northerners, including Defense, Agriculture, Education, and Health.

“The President’s actions reflect his commitment to the North. He established the Ministry of Livestock and the North West Development Commission, among other initiatives, to uplift our people,” Shettima said.

Shettima also pointed out that despite some ministries being led by Southerners, many of the significant parastatals under those ministries are headed by Northerners. “For example, the head of the NNPC is Mele Kolo Kyari from Borno, and the Nigerian Ports Authority is led by Abubakar Tsoho from Taraba.”

On his role as Vice President in ensuring fair treatment for Northerners, Shettima revealed plans to convene a meeting with Northern governors, wealthy individuals, politicians, and other stakeholders to address the region’s economic and security challenges.

“We have no business with poverty in the North. Allah has blessed us with everything,” he said. “We will sit down with our wealthy Northerners and political leaders to find a genuine and unified way forward for the North.”