The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) strongly condemns the relocation of key departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to Lagos under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
The ACF perceives these moves as a deliberate strategy to further underdeveloped the northern region.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, citing congestion in its Abuja headquarters, announced plans to transfer departments to Lagos, emphasizing the initiative's aim to optimize operational efficiency and comply with safety standards.
Similarly, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria's headquarters relocation from Abuja to Lagos was officially disclosed by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo.
The ACF, represented by Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, its National Publicity Secretary, issued a statement in Kaduna titled 'Planned relocation of key CBN units and FAAN headquarters to Lagos deliberate ploy to further underdeveloped northern Nigeria.'
The ACF argues that these relocations are in bad faith and questions the recent appointments in the Ministry of Aviation, where only eight of the 40 directors appointed are from the North.
The ACF calls on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urge the agencies to reconsider their decisions, emphasizing that there is ample land in the Federal Capital Territory for expansion.
It reminds all concerned parties that the capital's relocation from Lagos to Abuja decades ago was for valid reasons, both constitutional and practical.
While the CBN spokesperson, Sidi Ali, was unavailable for comment, an anonymous official from the apex bank refutes the ACF's claims, asserting that the relocations are purely operational and not politically motivated.
