The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing a strategic economic plan to transform Kano State into the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria and a major gateway for trade in West Africa.
Yilwatda, who spoke in Abuja over the weekend, said the Federal Government’s ongoing infrastructure and industrial projects in Kano and across the northern corridor were part of a deliberate effort to reposition the state as a centre for commerce, manufacturing and logistics.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman said the administration’s vision was to make Kano the largest business hub in Nigeria after Lagos and a key gateway to the Sahel and Francophone West Africa.
He said projects such as the Kaduna–Kano standard gauge railway, expected to be completed this year, would connect the state to Abuja and southern parts of the country, reducing the cost of transporting goods and passengers.
Yilwatda added that the Kano–Maradi rail line would open up export routes into Niger Republic and other parts of the Sahel, while the planned Kano Metropolitan Rail Service would improve transportation within the city and enhance economic activities.
He also listed the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline project as a major initiative expected to power industries, revive manufacturing and attract investments to the state.
According to him, ongoing investments in power infrastructure and the rehabilitation of major road networks, including the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano highway, would further boost connectivity and trade.
He noted that the proposed Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway would link northern agricultural zones to southern ports, creating new economic opportunities across the region.
Yilwatda said the focus on Kano was driven by its strategic importance as the largest commercial centre in Northern Nigeria and its proximity to key West African markets.
He maintained that strengthening Kano’s economy would help address poverty, unemployment and insecurity in the North.
The APC chairman also criticised opposition parties, accusing them of focusing on politics rather than development, while insisting that the Tinubu administration was laying the foundation for long-term economic growth in the region.
He added that the ongoing projects would reposition Kano as a major economic force and reshape the economic future of Northern Nigeria.
