Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, has expressed disagreement with the proposed relocation of specific departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos.
Ndume alleges that political cartels are misinforming President Bola Tinubu, leading to what he considers to be ill-informed decisions.
During an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Senator Ndume accused “Lagos boys” in the corridors of power of providing misleading advice to the President. He emphasized that those influencing these decisions are not doing any favors to President Tinubu and warned of potential political consequences.
The targeted CBN departments for relocation include Banking Supervision, Other Financial Institutions Supervision, Consumer Protection Department, Payment System Management Department, and Financial Policy Regulations Department. The move is intended to decongest the CBN’s head office in Abuja.
FAAN also justifies its decision, citing the prevention of public resource waste and decay of its abandoned building in Lagos. However, Senator Ndume argues against the relocation, asserting that having two capitals is not practical.
“We only have one Federal Capital and that is Abuja. The regulators of the financial institutions are supposed to be or are in Abuja,” Ndume stated during the interview. He questioned whether the CBN governor would operate from Lagos and drew comparisons with relocating other key ministries based on regional factors.
The Senator, serving as the Chief Whip of the Senate, expressed confidence that President Tinubu, being a nationalist, would review the situation.
The proposed relocations have sparked diverse reactions, with various northern stakeholders, including the Arewa Consultative Forum, rejecting the decision. The pan-northern socio-political organization alleges that the relocations are a deliberate attempt to further underdevelop the northern region of the country.
