A recent announcement by the Presidency on the relocation of key government entities has ignited a fervent debate, with the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) as well as Senator Ali Ndume and others expressing concerns and threatening political consequences.
Indeed, it is clear that many of these opposing voices do not believe in one Nigeria. If I may ask, is Lagos not a part of Nigeria? Why should there be so much furor over a clearly patriotic policy of the Tinubu led federal government? In my opinion, those who oppose the move are clearly being tribalistic and unpatriotic!
Why The Opposition?
The summary of the opposition of the Northern leaders to the move is largely on the perception that the move would hurt the North and widen the economic disparity between the North and the South. They contend that all federal agencies should be domiciled within the federal capital territory. To them, FCT, being the nation’s capital, should host and accommodate all federal institutions. They have simply overlooked the administrative and economic reasons for the relocation. Those who are trying to turn it into a North versus South matter are utterly wrong and unpatriotic. They have forgotten that there are many federal agencies headquartered in Kaduna and Kogi states. As a matter of fact, Kaduna is the main host of federal agencies headquarters, after Abuja. And these elders see nothing wrong with that. Anyway, that divisive rhetoric has been punctured by no less a personage than a former governor of CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the former Emir of Kano and former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sensibly said that there is nothing wrong in the movement of certain departments of CBN to Lagos. He reminded all that the policy was already in the pipeline even when he was the CBN governor. Despite that intervention however, the decision has continued to spark talk from a section of people who never think about the good of Nigeria. They always situate everything in the context of politics and regionalism. They never seem to think of the good of the nation.
However, no matter how pedantic their lack of support might be, It is important to examine the positive significance of the proposed relocations, the fears expressed by its critics, and the need for a nuanced understanding of the government’s actions.
Clearly, the relocation of the Department of Banking Supervision to Lagos aligns with the concentration of commercial bank headquarters in that city. This move is seen as a strategic effort to enhance operational efficiency and proximity to financial institutions which are the locus of CBN’S activities. Also, the decision to relocate the head office of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to Lagos retraces historical roots. FAAN was initially headquartered in Lagos before being moved to Abuja. The administrative shift is framed as a return to practical considerations, considering Lagos’ significance in aviation.
Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial capital, holds a central role in economic activities and is clearly the nation’s main aviation hub. The decision to move certain government functions in Lagos is mainly driven by the city’s economic prominence and its established infrastructure. Critics, including Senator Ndume, have raised concerns about the potential for ethnic mistrust and political manipulation. They argue that these relocations might be exploited by political opponents to sow seeds of division, especially in the context of regional politics. The historical sensitivity surrounding the relocation of the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja is a backdrop to their current fears.
Federal Government Perspective
The Presidency has vehemently dismissed claims of planning to relocate the Federal Capital back to Lagos. They assert that Abuja is the Federal Capital as legally established and will not change. It went on to say that the decisions to relocate some departments of some agencies are commonsensical moves to save money and introduce administrative efficiency in systems that are over burdened with waste. The distortions according to the Presidency are politically motivated and fueled by opponents of national cohesion and progress. While dispelling insinuations that the relocations were political moves aimed at marginalizing a section of the country, the government said the allegations were unfounded.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the clarification in a statement on Sunday. Idris said, “For example, it is not true that the relocation to Lagos of the Headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and of certain departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are political moves aimed at marginalizing a section of the country. These allegations are unfounded. Instead, these are pragmatic administrative steps to improve operational efficiency and reduce operating costs.”
Why The Policy Should Be Supported
The decision to relocate some institutions away from Abuja for “operational efficiency” is commendable. As it is based on operational efficiency and reduction of operating costs, then the government should also look at the oil sector.
In the spirit of efficient decentralisation, all oil agencies should move to the Niger Delta just as the Ports Authority and NIMASA should also move to states and regions that host ports and sea operations!
For operational efficiency, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited should move its headquarters to any of the major towns in the region, possibly Uyo, Yenogoa or Port Harcourt. Similarly, that resolution of the National Assembly directing multinational oil companies to move their headquarters from Lagos and elsewhere to the Niger Delta should be enforced. It is the opinion of this writer that the resolution should be backed by an Executive Order of Mr President. This will give it the needed teeth and muscle!
Why should the headquarters of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) be in Abuja when as a matter of fact ALL oil spills happen in Niger Delta? This is one of the reasons why oil spill emergency in the Niger Delta is never attended to on time thus exacerbating harm to the environment and destroying the livelihood of farmers and fishermen. In many instances distressed communities wait for weeks and months for Abuja’s response which never comes.
NOSDRA and similar agencies that address the challenges from the oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta have no business being headquartered in Abuja. It is for the same reason of operational efficiency that many have suggested that the ministry of agriculture should be headquartered in the North, especially Benue State, widely recognized as the food basket of the nation. This is because the north has a comparative advantage in agriculture in the country. I can bet that if the government is committed to the pursuit of operational efficiency and cost reduction it has enough data to redistribute the institutions of governance that would save the country the billions wasted on logistics as a result of headquarters being far from the theaters of action.
Patriotism and National Interest
However, it must be done transparently in such a manner that no part of the country would feel marginalized. To address the concerns raised, the government should engage in transparent communication, providing clarity on the rationale behind these relocations. This will help dispel misconceptions and foster public understanding. Leaders, especially those in the political sphere, should exercise restraint in their statements so as to avoid exacerbating ethnic and regional divides.
MAY NIGERIA REBOUND
