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Federal Government says that the relocation of some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) corporate headquarters from Abuja to Lagos State is not ill intended but to improve efficiency and save costs.
This was stated in a press statement issued by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation on Sunday, urging Nigerians to disregard any narratives stating that the decision was taken for political reasons and to favour a particular region over others.
Some northerners and groups have criticised the move, describing it as a ploy to weaken the Northern region.
The statement reads in part, “Even as we tackle our challenges with urgency and dedication, it is also necessary to remind all Nigerians of the need to resist all forces and narratives of misinformation and division.
“For example, it is not true that the relocation to Lagos of the Headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and of certain departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are political moves aimed at marginalizing a section of the country.
“These allegations are unfounded. Instead, these are pragmatic administrative steps to improve operational efficiency and reduce operating costs.”
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) had earlier kicked against President Tinubu’s approval for the relocation of the headquarters of the FAAN and some CBN departments from Abuja to Lagos.
The national publicity secretary of the forum, Prof. Muhammad Baba, described the move as a deliberate plot against the Northern region.
He noted that Northerners would be affected by the exercise. According to ACF, the move shows a disturbing pattern of antagonistic actions often taken by certain federal government agencies against the interests of the North and other parts of the country.
But reacting to the outburst of the forum and other northern groups, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, also debunked the insinuations.
He concluded that President Tinubu has no plans to move the Federal Capital to Lagos.
