By Kasim Isa Muhammad
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial district, has railed against the planned move of certain Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) departments and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) headquarters from Abuja to Lagos.
Ndume alleges that influential figures, whom he refers to as ‘Lagos boys,’ are providing misguided advice to President Bola Tinubu, resulting in potentially flawed decisions.
In an interview with Channels Television, Ndume expressed concern about the relocation proposal, stating, “All these Lagos boys who think Lagos is synonymous with Nigeria are misinforming and wrongly advising the President.”
He emphasized that those in power are influencing President Tinubu and warned of political consequences arising from such decisions.
Ndume, who serves as the Chief Whip of the Senate, particularly highlighted the relocation of CBN departments, including Banking Supervision, Other Financial Institutions Supervision, Consumer Protection Department, Payment System Management Department, and Financial Policy Regulations Department.
He argued that moving these regulatory offices to Lagos would have adverse political implications.
Asserting the significance of Abuja as the sole Federal Capital, Ndume questioned the rationale behind relocating financial regulators.
He posed hypothetical scenarios, asking if the CBN governor would operate from Lagos or if other key institutions would be moved based on economic activities in specific regions.
Confident that President Tinubu, being a nationalist, would reconsider the decision, Ndume stressed the impracticality of having two capitals and the potential disruption such a move could cause.
The proposed relocation has stirred diverse reactions, with northern stakeholders, including the Arewa Consultative Forum, rejecting the decision.
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