The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nentawe Yilwatda says President Bola Tinubu is implementing a plan to develop Kano State into a centre for commerce, manufacturing and trade in Nigeria and West Africa.
APC Chairman Yilwatda said this in Abuja at the weekend in a statement signed on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy, Abimbola Tooki.
He said the projects being executed in Kano and across the Northern corridor form part of a coordinated economic strategy.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not merely developing Kano; he is redesigning the economic future of Northern Nigeria through Kano,” he said.
“His administration understands clearly that Kano is the commercial centre of the North and the gateway between Nigeria and the wider West African hinterland.”
According to him, the plan is to make Kano a major commercial centre in Nigeria and a trade gateway to the Sahel and Francophone West Africa.
He listed ongoing and planned projects under the administration, including the Kaduna–Kano standard gauge railway, which is expected to link Kano with Abuja and the southern part of the country.
He also mentioned the Kano–Maradi rail line, which will connect Nigeria to Niger Republic and other parts of the Sahel region.
Yilwatda said the Kano Metropolitan Rail project will improve movement within the city and support urban transport.
He added that the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline project will supply gas for industries, power generation and manufacturing activities in Kano and northern Nigeria.
He also cited ongoing work on power projects across the Northern corridor and road projects including the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway.
Yilwatda said the infrastructure plan is aimed at improving trade, industry and job creation.
“Who before now conceived this scale of integrated development for the North: rail lines, gas pipelines, metropolitan transit, power, highways and trade corridors, all designed to work together?” he said.
He said Kano remains a major commercial centre with markets and manufacturing activities and its location links it to Niger, Chad and other parts of West Africa.
He added that the development of Kano would support industrial activities such as textiles, leather and agro-processing.
Yilwatda said the government aims to expand economic activity beyond Lagos by strengthening other commercial centres.
He also criticised opposition parties, saying they focus on political issues rather than policy.
“While President Tinubu is building infrastructure that will transform the North, the opposition is focused on politics,” he said.
He said the projects would shape the economic structure of Northern Nigeria and strengthen Kano’s role in national development.
