In a news published by Sahara Reporters, The Yoruba Professionals Foundation (YPF) has strongly criticized northern leaders’ opposition to the relocation of the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Department of Banking Supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Lagos State.
In a statement issued by its Director of Administration, Oladapo Kayode, the group labeled the criticisms as “unfortunate, dishonorable, outrageous, and irresponsible,” emphasizing that Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians, not just one region.
YPF defended the relocation, citing the concentration of banking institutions and air transportation businesses in Lagos. They argued that the move aligns with the principle of public interest.
The group pointed out examples from other countries, such as Benin and the United States, where governmental and commercial headquarters are located in different cities.
The statement partly read: “90% of the headquarters of the Nigerian Military formations are in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria.
Nigerians from the South who own 90% of the resources used to build the formations sited against the principle of federal character in the North accepted everything in public interest but a relocation from Abuja to Lagos done in public interest is generating hues and cries from ethnic merchants from the North.
We also need to inform these regional jesters that Nigeria is a federal state; therefore, any part of the country can host the office of any agency of government.
For instance, in the international scene, the National Assembly of the Republic of Benin is situated in Port Novo while the Presidential Villa and Supreme Court are in Cotonou.
