A northern advocacy group, the Growth and Development of Northern Nigeria (GDNN), has called on the Federal Government to designate Lagos and Rivers States as additional Federal Capital Territories (FCTs). The group made the call during a press conference in Abuja on Friday, April 11, following its 18th Steering Committee meeting held on April 9, 2025.
According to the GDNN, Lagos and Rivers, particularly their capital cities, are economic powerhouses that serve the entire country and therefore deserve federal status and protection similar to Abuja. The group argued that designating Lagos and Port Harcourt as Federal Capital Territories would promote fairness, unity, and national access to key economic assets.
The Acting Secretary of GDNN’s Public Policy Advocacy Unit, Haruna Buhari, who addressed journalists, said the group’s position is rooted in historical decisions made during Nigeria’s transition to Abuja as the federal capital in 1975. He referenced the commitment of then Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, who had proposed Lagos, Kaduna, and Enugu as “special areas” to be treated as extensions of the new Federal Capital City.
Buhari noted that the current structure unfairly limits this federal status to Abuja alone, which according to him, has placed unnecessary political pressure on the city and denied equitable treatment to other regions.
“To limit this status to only Abuja is not only treating the North unfairly but also turning our backs on the commitment made in 1975,” he said. “Lagos and Rivers are national assets. Their critical infrastructure and economic importance make them deserving of FCT designation.”
The GDNN also demanded that the original host states of the Federal Capital Territory — Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Kaduna — be given special privileges in governance and administration of the FCT. According to Buhari, these states surrendered their land and resources for the development of Abuja and should benefit accordingly.
He proposed that similar policies be applied to Lagos and Rivers if they are designated as additional FCTs.
“We urge the 19 Northern governors to negotiate terms that will ensure citizens from these contributing states get preferential access to economic opportunities and appointments within the FCT,” he added.
During the same press briefing, GDNN strongly criticized the current leadership of the Nigerian Senate, accusing it of using internal rules to silence dissenting voices, especially from the North.
The group cited the recent suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as well as past incidents involving the late Senator Nuhu Aliyu, Senator Ali Ndume, and Senator Abdul Ningi. Buhari claimed that all these lawmakers were victims of Senate leadership allegedly abusing its power to punish outspoken members.
“There is a disturbing pattern of silencing northern senators who speak against injustice or poor governance,” Buhari stated. “This abuse of executive privilege must stop before it causes deeper national division.”
The GDNN also raised alarm over the rising insecurity in the country and urged the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to look beyond current approaches. According to the group, Nigeria must partner with genuinely friendly nations that possess the necessary technology and expertise to tackle insecurity more effectively.
“If the current method is not delivering the desired results, we must be bold enough to seek help elsewhere,” Buhari said.
He added that insecurity remains one of the biggest obstacles to national growth and unity and warned that failure to act urgently could lead to more suffering for ordinary Nigerians.
Turning to economic matters, the group expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to tighten the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR). This policy, which requires banks to hold a larger portion of their cash in reserve, has been described by the GDNN as harmful to small businesses and overall economic growth.
“The tightening of CRR is counterproductive. It discourages lending, increases the cost of doing business, and makes life harder for the common man,” said Buhari.
He urged the Federal Government to reconsider the policy in favour of measures that would support growth, reduce inflation, and increase access to financial services.
In another controversial stance, the GDNN advised the Federal Government to completely disengage from any further partnership with USAID or similar agencies. This comes after the former U.S. President, Donald Trump, dissolved USAID during his term.
Buhari argued that Nigeria must rethink its engagement with international donor agencies and instead focus on building self-reliance.
“Nigeria has enough resources to meet its own needs. We must determine our critical areas and lead the conversation when dealing with foreign partners,” he said.
The group also expressed concern that Nigeria’s current legal framework for combating money laundering has unfairly targeted legitimate businesspeople, particularly those who operate in cash-heavy sectors like local markets.
Buhari stated that many traders are being criminalised simply because they deal in high volumes of cash, which is common in traditional Nigerian markets.
“These laws must be reviewed to protect honest Nigerians who are contributing to the economy. Not everyone has access to digital banking,” he added.
Finally, the GDNN raised alarm about a looming environmental disaster from the Mpape landfill dumpsite in Abuja. The group described the site as a major threat to public health and called for urgent intervention by both federal and local authorities.
“The Mpape landfill is already affecting air and water quality. If nothing is done soon, it will become a serious health crisis for residents,” Buhari warned.
