ABUJA:  Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has cautioned that reinstating the fuel subsidy would severely hinder infrastructure and economic progress in Northern Nigeria. Speaking at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, he addressed a delegation of former African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidates from Northern states who officially defected to the ruling party.

The defectors, led by Princess Aslam Aliyu (Gimbiyar Kauran Namoda) and represented by Hon. Mohammed Hassan from Zamfara State, stated that their decision was driven by a commitment to support the current administration's national agenda and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Responding to opposition promises regarding the subsidy, Yilwatda questioned the feasibility and consequences of such a policy shift. He argued that reintroducing the subsidy would divert vital funds away from major infrastructure and social welfare initiatives, potentially stalling regional development.

According to the APC chairman, diverting resources to fund a subsidy would halt ongoing construction on critical regional corridors, including the Abuja-Kano and Kano-Maiduguri highways, as well as several other arterial routes linking Jos, Akwanga, Kwara, Mokwa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Daura, and Zaria. He also highlighted ongoing projects involving gas distribution, fertilizer supply, and compressed natural gas infrastructure designed to ease transportation costs and support local farmers. Additionally, he noted the regional benefits of federal student loan programs and pointed out improvements in state government finances, recalling that many northern states faced severe challenges meeting salary and gratuity obligations prior to 2023.

Addressing claims that the administration neglects the northern region, Yilwatda defended the distribution of federal projects and emphasized the inclusive political track record of party leadership, contrasting it with the governance histories of prominent opposition figures in other states.

Concluding the event, Yilwatda welcomed the new members to the party, instructing them to complete their formal registration at their local ward levels. He stressed the importance of grassroots mobilization, reminding members that electoral success ultimately depends on organization and voter turnout at individual polling units.