Following the controversies trailing the relocation of some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, says the protests from some quarters are unnecessary and unjustifiable.
Recall that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), some northern groups, especially the Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations (JACNYA) as well as some Northern Senators have criticized the move.
They have described it as a deliberate ploy to further under-develop the northern region of the country.
Reacting to the protest of the Northerners on the relocation of the aforementioned, Onuesoke stated that it was wrong for Northerners to claim Abuja as their own, stressing that Abuja belongs to all Nigerians and not Arewas alone.
“If the Government is moving any offices from Abuja to other parts of Nigeria, it will contribute to logistics and administrative convenience of such Ministry or department.
“Nothing is wrong with it. Why are some of the Northerners taking the relocation of these offices so personally as if the Central Bank belongs to the North?
“The Government has the right to move it to another place as it was moved from Lagos to Abuja. The Capital was formerly in Lokoja, from there to Calabar, from Calabar to Lagos and from Lagos to Abuja. Did the Southerners protest? he asked.
While justifying the relocation of a section of CBN and FAAN from Abuja to Lagos, the PDP Chieftain argued that 85 per cent of financial transactions take place in Lagos and 85 per cent of travellers in and out of Nigeria take place in Muritala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.
“The Federal Government decision of relocating FAAN from Abuja to Lagos will reduce the cost of FAAN staff Chattering private jets from Abuja to Lagos to sign or approve documents.
“In America, the Central Bank is levelled all over the place. Even the American Central Bank is sited in New York and not in Washington DC.
“The NIMASA they are referring to that it is relocated to Lagos, does Abuja have water or river? Will NIMASA be giving approval to ships in from Abuja?
“Nobody cares where the office is located. We only want results. Everything cannot function in Abuja.
“If I were the president, the ministry of Defence should move to the north, the police ministry to the East. The Ministry of Niger Delta has no business in Abuja, move it to Niger Delta. Commerce and industry can be in Lagos or Anambra.
“Please, relocate the headquarters of NNPC, oil multinational companies to Niger Delta, NDDC to Niger Delta and NPA to Niger Delta,” the former governorship aspirant in Delta State appealed to the Federal Government.
