President Bola Tinubu has delivered on the promises he made during the 2023 general election and continues to do so, according to the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya.

Yahaya made this assertion at a two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), held at Arewa House in Kaduna on Tuesday.

The event, themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity”, highlighted the importance of accountable leadership and participatory democracy. Yahaya described the forum as crucial for strengthening public trust and encouraging citizen involvement in governance.

He emphasised that such gatherings were not merely platforms to showcase achievements but opportunities for citizens to question, suggest, and hold leaders accountable. “As leaders, we must have the humility to admit our errors and make adjustments based on public feedback,” he said.

The governor stated that the partnership between Northern Nigeria and President Tinubu’s administration had yielded tangible progress in infrastructure, security, and governance. He called for continued support in 2027, saying Tinubu had earned it through “performance and hard work.”

Yahaya recalled that during the 2023 campaign, Tinubu made specific pledges to the North, and that over 60% of the votes that secured his victory came from the region. “Today, we are not gathered for political rhetoric but to assess how far we have come. Despite national challenges, this administration has delivered results for our region,” he said.

He pointed to key infrastructure projects either revived or fast-tracked under Tinubu’s leadership, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line, Kaduna Refinery rehabilitation, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline, and the Kolmani Oilfield drilling.

“These projects hold the potential to drive industrial growth and energy security in the North,” Yahaya said. He also highlighted newer initiatives such as the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway and inter-state road developments that would link Northern producers to Southern markets.

The governor noted improvements in agriculture value chains, expanded healthcare infrastructure, and renewed focus on the Almajiri and out-of-school children crises, with support from traditional institutions and international partners.

On security, Yahaya reported notable gains, including the elimination of over 300 bandit and terrorist leaders through coordinated operations. He said this had disrupted networks that once terrorised communities. “While challenges remain, the direction is clear – the siege on our people is lifting,” he stated.

He also praised the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development as a step towards modernising the pastoral economy.

Yahaya acknowledged the hardship caused by economic reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate floatation but argued they were necessary for long-term stability. “The pain is real, but so is the progress,” he said.

He called on Northern stakeholders—state governments, traditional rulers, business leaders, and civil society—to complement federal efforts. He reaffirmed that the North-Southwest alliance underpinning Tinubu’s victory was more than politics—it was a stabilising force for national unity.

The event was attended by current and former governors, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), National Security Adviser (NSA), service chiefs, ministers, aides, heads of government agencies, and captains of industry from the North. Also in attendance was Malam Ali M. Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).