The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), Taraba State chapter, has decried the federal government’s continued land-border closure, alleging it has exacerbated poverty and unemployment in northern Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its coordinator, Comrade Idris Ayuba, after a press conference in Jalingo, the group accused the administration of policies that unfairly favor the southern region while marginalizing the north.
Ayuba highlighted the effects of the border closure, subsidy removal, and proposed Tax Reform Bill, describing them as harmful to the economic stability of the region.
“The closure has resulted in significant losses for traders and businesses in the north, worsening unemployment and poverty,” Ayuba said.
He noted that the southern region has benefitted disproportionately from the closure, citing increased demand for locally produced goods, higher customs revenue, and greater access to ports and trade routes.
“The imbalance in economic opportunities has concentrated growth in the south, leaving the north further marginalized,” he added.
On the proposed tax reforms, Ayuba warned that they would negatively impact agriculture, a key sector of the northern economy, and further widen economic disparities.
The group also expressed concern over abandoned federal projects in the region, such as the Mambilla Hydropower Project and the Jalingo-Numan Road.
“The failure to complete critical infrastructure projects perpetuates disparities between the north and south, hindering job creation and economic growth,” Ayuba said.
CNG urged the federal government to adopt equitable policies and ensure fair distribution of resources to address the north’s challenges.
“The North’s contributions to national development should be recognized, and a fair revenue-sharing formula should be implemented,” the statement said.
