On May 29 (today) the nation pauses to reflect on the mid-term mark of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Two years in, the sweeping economic and structural reforms introduced under his leadership have left Northern Nigeria at a crossroads—grappling with hardship, yet clinging to hope for a better future.
From Northwest to NorthEast, the verdict is not unanimous. While some hail the reforms as forward-thinking and necessary, others feel sidelined by policies they say have only deepened poverty and regional inequality.
Arguably, the most defining policy of Tinubu’s administration was the immediate removal of the fuel subsidy during his inauguration address. Though, experts had called for the removal on numerous occasions and the Buhari administration had already set the stage when Tinubu arrived, it came with intense economic consequences.
Muhammad Taoheed, a researcher based in Abuja, called the fallout “devastating.”
“The prices of essentials have skyrocketed. Transport alone gulps so much of my income despite the fact that I work virtually sometimes. It’s not just me—millions of Nigerians are in the same sinking boat.”
Hajara Abdullahi, a business woman in Kano, echoed similar frustrations. Despite various federal government interventions—palliatives disbursements and social investment programs to cushion the effects of the removal on the masses —she said the reality on ground hasn’t changed much.
“The hardship keeps biting harder because the government has failed to provide a concrete and effective measure to cushion the effects.”
Industrial Slowdown and Job Losses
Ahmad Bello from Sokoto once worked in a leather printing factory in Kano, earning ₦40,000 a month. It wasn’t much, but it fed his household of five. Now, he’s out of steady work after the factory downsized due to rising operational costs.
“Our Oga said he couldn’t afford to keep all of us. He kept the old staff and fired us – new workers. Now, I do odd jobs to survive. Life has become something else.”
Ahmad’s story reflects a wider trend across northern states, where many small and medium scale enterprises have folded or scaled down operations, unable to cope with fuel price hikes, forex fluctuations, epileptic power supply and inflation.
Allegation of regional favoritism
For some in the North, it goes beyond economic policies and delves into political. Muhammad Tukur Ibrahim, a political analyst pointed to what he sees as deliberate sidelining of northern interests.
“We saw oil exploration efforts in the North under Buhari. Tinubu came in and started well, but now that project is dead. Why? Because it’s not in the South. This government plays favoritism.”
His views resonate with concerns expressed by some politicians from the North on prior occasions who challenged why federal infrastructure and appointees are disproportionately concentrated in southern states.
But not everyone is counting losses. Baba Abdullahi Machina, from Yobe, offered a more optimistic view of the administration’s achievements.
“For me, increasing the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 is bold and commendable. It’s a clear attempt to adjust to the new cost of living and improve workers’ welfare.”
He also praised the enforcement of local government financial autonomy, calling it “a major step toward strengthening grassroots governance and accountability.”
Baba went on to highlight the advantages of the newly introduced Student Loan scheme, “The loan will empower youths from low-income families to pursue higher education. But the government must put mechanisms in place to prevent corruption and ensure the intended beneficiaries actually benefit.”
Kano based social commentator, Aminu Abdullahi addressed both progress and pitfalls.
“There’s potential in the 3 MTT program, and several other youth empowerment initiatives. But the impact has been uneven, and many rural communities are still excluded.”
He warned that without proper monitoring and equitable distribution, even the best-designed policies may widen existing gaps instead of bridging them.
Security still an unfinished battle
Security remains a major concern for the Northern region. Despite increased defense budgets, and some recorded pockets of success, large parts of the Northeast remain under threat.
“We hear about new fighter jets and tactical operations,” said Umar Rufai from Katsina, “but in some rural areas, farmers are still paying bandits to access their lands. People remain vulnerable to kidnappers, especially in border communities.”
As President Tinubu rolls out his score-card to the nation today, people that have been directly affected by his reforms, like Ahmad Bello are calling for lasting solutions to today’s problems.
“We want the government to impact our lives positively and not to make decisions that make everyday a daily struggle for the masses,” Ahmad emphasized.
