Controversy surrounding the transfer of federal agencies to Lagos

Senators from the North voiced their displeasure on Monday over the transfer of federal offices from Abuja to Lagos.

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In addition to objecting to the agency transfer, the senators said that the development was meant to further underdevelop the North and that it was an unfair distribution of funds between the North and South in the 2024 budget.

Regional organisations, like the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) and the Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation Afenifere, criticised the senators for suggesting that Nigeria was not yet a nation and insisted that the outcome was what mattered.
Notably, the Northern Senators’ viewpoint has been echoed by the Arewa Consultative Forum, or ACF.

“The CBN’s decision to address a logistics issue is by no means an isolated or typical administrative measure. Instead, it is consistent with a troubling trend of hostile measures frequently implemented by some federal administrations against the interests of Northern and other regions of Nigeria.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) of the Federal Ministry of Aviation made an announcement after the CBN regarding its intention to relocate as well, citing a lack of office space and the volume of traffic handled by Lagos.”According to ACF, the proposed actions of CBN and FAAN are hurried and dishonest. Professor Tukur Baba, the National Publicity Secretary, signed the statement.

Under the auspices of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), senators from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also protested yesterday against the distribution and allotment of monies in the 2024 budget as well as the transfer of some federal agencies to Lagos.

Senators intend to speak with FG

As representatives of the people, the senators were committed to addressing the concerns and feelings of their constituents regarding certain decisions and policies put forth by the Federal Government, including what they described as lopsidedness in the distribution and allocation of resources in the 2024 budget and the relocation of some federal agencies from Abuja to Lagos. The senators said in a statement that they had concluded arrangements to engage the National Assembly, the executive arm of government, and stakeholders to address the issues.

In order to properly solve the issue, he gave his constituents the assurance that the senators had taken their concerns seriously and were currently actively interacting with their colleagues. He added that the senators were adamant about the ability of cooperation and honest communication to transform the nation.

According to Sumaila’s statement, “We are committed to addressing the concerns and feelings of our constituents regarding certain decisions and policies put forth by the federal government, including lopsidedness in the distribution and allocation of resources in the 2024 budget and the relocation of some federal agencies from Abuja to Lagos. We are representatives of the people at the national level (Senate).”

We implore our constituents to have patience as we assiduously look for opportunities for communication, participate in amicable conversations, and, when required, take appropriate legal action. You may be confident that we are acting in accordance with the laws of the land and the constitution while working to maintain equity and justice.

We think that by having a common goal, treating each other with respect, and communicating well, we can create a route that results in constructive change.

We will aggressively listen to Nigerians’ concerns and offer updates on our progress by including the executive branch of government, the Senate’s leadership, and pertinent stakeholders.

‘’To ensure that their opinions are appreciated and their voices are heard, we urge everyone to engage in various communication channels.

Finally, let me say that we, the people’s representatives, are totally dedicated to finding a solution to the urgent problems at hand. We kindly request your unwavering patience, trust, and support as we strive to fulfil our constitutional obligations to our constituents and protect their ideals.

Afenifere criticises senators from the North and asserts that their concerns should be with the outcome.

Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi, responded to the senators from the North yesterday by stating that certain agency departments were formerly located in Lagos.

Ajayi continued, saying that if the relocation will improve the agency’ performance, Afenifere sees nothing wrong with the proposed move.

In his own words: “It is documented that certain CBN and FAAN departments were first based in Lagos. We even know that several of those departments’ organisational structures were built under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. This administration is not exactly embarking on a novel endeavour.

There are government agencies dispersed over different regions of several nations. In this instance, we don’t see any issues with it. There are officers in each of these departments from all throughout the nation.

Performance ought to be the top priority for all Nigerians. Our organisation does not support nepotism, nor do we advocate for the concentration of projects in one area over another.

North’s unpatriotic and narrow-minded criticism of FG — MBF

The Middle Belt Forum, or MBF, responded by saying that it is narrow-minded and disloyal for anyone to argue that the Federal federal is moving any federal agency from Abuja to Lagos or the South in an attempt to underdevelop the North.

The National President of the MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, responded to the demonstration organised by certain Northern groups regarding the issue by stating that it is proof that Nigeria has not yet achieved the status of a nation.

“It is regrettable that this country has not yet achieved nationhood,” he uttered. Some individuals still just consider themselves, their tribe, their enclave, or their religion; they do not consider Nigeria.

“In Lagos, some of these agencies perform better. Our stock exchange is where? Does anything in the North get lost when anything or an entity that holds authority is moved to Lagos? Has the Nigerian Central Bank (CBN) been relocated from the North to the South? Abuja is in centre Nigeria; it is not even in the north. For this reason, the Gbagi and others were informed that Abuja does not have any tribal groups of any kind. For all Nigerians, it is the Federal Capital Territory, or FCT.

Therefore, it is meaningless and does not constitute to witch-hunting the North if certain roles and agencies are moved to the South. Therefore, we shouldn’t be thinking against the South in this way.

“Recall that about 90% of the NNPC’s upper echelons were made up of Northerners before to the former president Buhari’s departure from office. And a sizable portion have been Northerners up until now.

Have Southerners asserted that Northerners shouldn’t hold those posts since crude oil originates in the South or South South? Therefore, it is narrow-minded and disloyal for people to speak in such a way.

The Pan Niger Delta Forum, or PANDEF, stated Wednesday that it will not issue a definitive statement since it does not currently possess the information about the alarm that the senators from the North have raised. “Well, the truth is that we have not got the exact situation about that matter, whether they are actually speculations that government is trying to do that,” stated Ken Robinson, Publicity Secretary of PANDEF.

“We are aware of some CBN sections and, naturally, FAAN as well. As a result, we don’t just comment on topics about which we don’t know enough. We don’t want to respond to problems by making assumptions.

Edwin Clark: “Northerners shouldn’t provoke anyone.”

Chief Edwin Clark, a leader of the South-South, responded Wednesday, saying: “There is nothing wrong with relocating some CBN departments to Lagos.” Who was consulted during the Navy’s move to Kano, the establishment of the Shippers House, and the transfer of the Nigeria Maritime Authority (NMA) from Abuja to Lagos under former President Olusegun Obasanjo?

“People in the North should understand that Abuja is shared by all, not just them. This is why they are opposing Nyesom Wike, claiming that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is theirs alone, and that other states only have 17.

“Let us maintain our peace; Northern senators and citizens ought not to agitate anyone.” Abuja is shared by all, which is why we stated that the oil should originate from the corporate headquarters of Shell, Chevron, Agip, and other companies, such as those in Delta, Eket, and other places.