During a policy meeting in Kaduna, the Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has pointed to the latest appointments at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a troubling example of growing imbalance.
Out of 15 new Directors recently appointed by the CBN, only four are from Northern Nigeria.
The NEF described this as clear evidence of regional exclusion in key national institutions. It said such patterns are not random but reflect deliberate choices that may deepen national divisions.
The NEF also raised alarm about the recent relocation of several CBN departments from Abuja to Lagos. According to the group, these moves reinforce the perception that federal power is being concentrated in the South, at the expense of Northern participation in economic governance.
In addition to political exclusion, the NEF criticised the economic structure of the country, where the North is largely limited to raw agricultural production.
The Forum said the region continues to serve as a food basket without any meaningful federal investment in processing, storage, or industrial growth.
It called for urgent action to transform Northern Nigeria into a value-adding zone.
The group said agro-industrial development is key to lifting millions out of poverty and reducing dependence on raw produce exports. It recommended the establishment of agro-processing hubs across northern states, backed by federal funding and infrastructure. The NEF warned that these trends of exclusion, if left unchecked, could damage national unity.
It stated the importance of fairness and inclusion in appointments, economic planning, and development projects.
“Why were 15 new directors recently employed, with only four from Northern Nigeria?
Northern Nigeria cannot continue to serve only as a food basket without also being a value-adding zone. These are not coincidences. They are decisions with consequences, and the North is watching”, he stated.
