The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum has expressed dismay over the decision to relocate crucial departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to Lagos.
Quest Times reports that the move, attributed to cost concerns, has sparked fears of potential consequences for Abuja’s role as the capital city.
In response to internal memos from both institutions outlining the relocation plans, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) raised concerns about the implications for national unity, operational disruptions, economic setbacks, and perpetuating regional imbalances.
President General of the AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, emphasized the deliberate choice of Abuja as the capital to promote unity and decentralize power.
Shettima voiced disappointment at the perceived silence of Northern elites regarding the relocations, stressing the need for well-meaning Nigerians to speak out against what he termed “emerging arbitrariness.”
The AYCF also urged decision-makers to prioritize national unity, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to advocating for the preservation of Abuja’s status as the capital city.
“The organisation urges decision-makers to prioritise national unity and ensure that any actions taken do not perpetuate regional imbalances or compromise the political and economic viability of Northern Nigeria.”
As the debate unfolds, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum has vowed to resist any attempts to undermine national unity, calling on relevant authorities to reconsider the relocations in light of potential harm to Abuja’s significance as the capital city.