By Moses Aliyu
Abuja, Nigeria
December 4, 2024
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on Northern Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bills, emphasizing their potential benefits for the region. Dogara made the remarks during a Town Hall meeting on the reforms, hosted by Channels Television on Monday.
Tax Reforms and the North
Dogara dismissed claims that the tax reforms were “anti-North,” highlighting Tinubu’s creation of the Livestock Ministry as a groundbreaking initiative. He described it as a step no Northern leader in recent history has taken to unlock the region’s economic potential.
“I want to talk to my brothers in the North: this is not the time to condemn the president and label these bills as anti-North,” Dogara stated.
He further noted:
“The president has done something significant, and if he can see this through, it will surpass anything any Northern leader has done in my lifetime.”
Economic Opportunities in the Livestock Sector
Dogara underscored the immense economic potential in the global dairy industry, which is projected to grow to $2.5 trillion in the next three years.
“If we in the North can organize ourselves to capture even five per cent of this global market, that’s $250 billion—enough for the North to sustain itself independently,” he said.
He emphasized the region’s natural endowments and urged Northern leaders to leverage the Livestock Ministry as a platform for transformative economic growth.
A Call for Unity and Vision
Dogara’s appeal comes amid debates on Tinubu’s economic policies, with some critics from the North expressing reservations about their impact. However, Dogara’s perspective reframes the reforms as an opportunity for the region to harness its resources and build a self-sustaining economy.
The former Speaker’s remarks highlight the importance of cooperation and long-term vision in addressing regional economic challenges, urging Northerners to embrace the reforms and their potential for prosperity.
