A northern development expert, Dr Modibbo, has raised concerns over the slow pace of development in the region, questioning why states with close proximity fail to share common services and infrastructure.
Speaking in an interview, Dr. Modibbo specifically cited the example of Gombe State and Bauchi State, both of which have their own airports despite being relatively close to each other.
He questioned the rationale behind such duplication, arguing that northern states could make more meaningful progress by pooling resources and investing in shared infrastructure rather than replicating projects that serve similar purposes.
According to him, regional collaboration would help reduce waste, improve efficiency, and allow governments to channel scarce resources into other critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and economic development.
Dr Modibbo stressed that stronger cooperation among northern states is essential for accelerating growth and addressing the region’s numerous socio-economic challenges, noting that unity and strategic planning remain key to achieving sustainable development.
