By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
The Bauchi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA) has asserted that Northern Nigeria has been sidelined including removal from Compressed Natural Gas Presidential Initiative which present a significant opportunity to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape and promote environmental sustainability.
The President of BACCIMA, Hon. Aminu Mohammed Danmaliki stated this while addressing a press conference in Bauchi.
He lamented that Northern Stakeholders, particularly indigenous investors and operators, have been sidelined in the process, contrary to the constitutional provision of Federal Character.
According to him,the North stands to lose out in several ways Economic Opportunities and Job Creation: Southern Nigeria benefits from job creation in mechanical conversion, fueling station management, logistics, and training. Without similar investments in the North, local economies miss out.
“Northern region is in distress as it is witnessing the collapse of critical infrastructure and living with the daily consequences of unreliable electricity, broken roads, insecurity, and a generation of youths with no jobs and little hope”
“I stand before you today not just as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, but as a son of the North, deeply concerned about the trajectory of our region. Our industries are choking. Our communities are struggling. And yet, the federal gaze seems to have turned away.”
“This situation reflects a deep sense of marginalization and systematic neglect that many Northern Nigerians are feeling. But today, we say: enough is enough. We are not here to cry. We are here to lead. To propose solutions. To demand equity. And to take responsibility for shaping our own future.”
“Thank God we have survived the onslaught of the Boko Haram that have killed and maimed hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, majority of whom were Muslims. The scourge of Boko Haram is not organic to our people. It is being fueled by forces outside the North, with cohorts within Nigeria led by America and their western allies which not only destroyed lives, driven away investors, but also crippled our local economies with the sole aim of destroying the North.”
“Our economy cannot develop in fear. We call on the Federal Government, Intelligent Agencies and our International Partners to investigate and expose the sponsors of insecurity which the Federal Government knows them, the North must be safe for growth,” he added.
“Peace is not a privilege – it is a right. Furthermore, the oil discovered in Kolmani in Bauchi State which was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari after spending billions of Dollars was thrown overboard for political reason by President Tinubu, shamelessly, the lifting of the oil has been denied. Why has this administration done this? We demand action and accountability.”
“In addition, the Northern Nigeria has been totally sidelined and removed from CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Presidential Initiative which present a significant opportunity to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape and promote environmental sustainability,
“CNG is part of Nigeria’s broader energy transition plan, aimed at reducing dependency on petrol and diesel by promoting cleaner, more affordable fuels. This laudable programme is only concentrated in Southern Nigeria.”
“Private Sector Growth: Entrepreneurs and SMEs in the South gain firstmover advantages in CNG-related businesses, such as vehicle conversion workshops and fleet services. Cost of Transportation CNG is significantly cheaper than petrol or diesel. In the North, where long-distance transportation is common and costs are already high, lack of CNG access keeps transport costs high affecting prices of goods, especially food and essentials.”
“Energy, Security and Environmental Impact. The North relies more on road transport for goods, so transitioning to cleaner fuels would significantly reduce emissions. Without CNG access, the region continues with high-polluting fuels,” he said
On Strategic Marginalization, he noted that,”If CNG infrastructure is not equitably distributed, it could reinforce perceptions of regional imbalance in federal projects—undermining national unity and economic equity. Missed Industrial Potential The North has significant potential in transport (especially haulage), agriculture (needing cold-chain logistics), and youth employment. CNG could support all of these, but not without its infrastructure.”
“Bottom line: Yes, the North is missing out, economically, socially, and strategically, if the CNG initiative is not established in the region. It’s essential for stakeholders in the North (Chambers of Commerce, State Governments, Transport Unions ) to push for inclusion and possibly even propose public-private partnerships to build local capacity around CNG.”
“We therefore call for an equitable expansion of CNG infrastructure including refueling stations, conversion centers, training hubs, and support services across Northern Nigeria to ensure national inclusivity, energy transition fairness, and economic development” he concluded