‘Don’t revoke policies of ex-ministers’

The Concerned Northern Frontier has raised objections to the cancellation of approved projects by the Muhammadu Buhari administration and their subsequent re-award by certain ministers under President Tinubu’s government.

The group, led by Convener Mohammed Bassa, expressed concerns during a press briefing in Abuja, highlighting what they perceive as a hostile approach towards the former administration.

In a statement signed by its convener, Mohammed Bassa, and made available to newsmen, the group said it had come to their notice that most of the ministers were cancelling approvals and setting aside approvals granted by the former administration before leaving office.

The group said it showed a clear hostility towards the former administration adding that they should continue on the good policies instead of a needless battle for supremacy which the group believes was without the consent of the President and thus must be checked on time.

“The current Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has been making unprintable remarks concerning most agencies under him, with emphasis on Federal Mortgage Bank, an agency he led before being appointed as minister. We wish to know under what basis he is evaluating them when he himself has not in any way shown genuine leadership and needed transformation in the housing and urban sector ever since his inception in office.”

Bassa specifically pointed fingers at the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, alleging that he had initiated a committee to review policies implemented by his predecessor. The group is keen on understanding the motives behind these committee setups and the subsequent reviews of agencies under Dangiwa’s purview.

Expressing their discontent, Bassa stated, “We have observed the activities of some ministers under President Tinubu’s government, signalling trouble ahead for the regime with their actions against the people and most policies of the former government.”

The Concerned Northern Frontier emphasised that the cancellation of approvals granted by former ministers upon leaving office indicates a clear hostility against the previous administration. The group perceives these actions as unnecessary power struggles that may not align with the President’s intentions.

Specifically targeting Dangiwa, the current Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the group raised questions about his evaluations of agencies under his jurisdiction, including the Mortgage Bank and Federal Housing Authority. Dangiwa’s leadership and transformative efforts in the housing and urban sector were called into question, prompting the group to seek transparency regarding the allocation of funds to the ministry.

“We demand to know how much he has collected since assuming office and how he utilised the 100 billion naira allocated to the ministry. Additionally, we seek clarity on the real intentions behind the committees set up to review agencies under him,” Bassa asserted.

The Concerned Northern Frontier also expressed concerns that these reviews might be part of a privatisation agenda that could negatively impact the Federal Mortgage Bank and Federal Housing Estates. They called on the National Assembly to exercise its oversight function and thoroughly investigate the reasons behind the minister’s revocation of old contracts and their subsequent re-awarding, suspecting a connection to settlements with new individuals.