By Terna Chikpa,
Jalingo, Taraba – April 30, 2025
President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Muhammad Haruna, has condemned the poor state of infrastructure in the North-East, particularly the road networks in Taraba State, which he described as worse than those in war-torn South Sudan.
Haruna, who spoke during the 11th SSANU National Zonal Executive Council meeting held in Jalingo on Tuesday, lamented the federal government’s continued neglect of the region in terms of infrastructure, security, and human capital development.
“Roads linking Taraba from any direction are worse than those in South Sudan,” Haruna said. “The federal government has failed to fairly treat the North-East, despite the region’s significant contribution to the nation, especially in agriculture.”
He questioned the disparity in infrastructure development across Nigeria, noting that while states like Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, and Kaduna enjoy federal presence, the North-East remains underserved.
“Except for Benue, no state feeds the country like Taraba. There is no justification for this neglect,” he added.
On security, Haruna expressed concern over the increasing militarization and alleged extortion at checkpoints, accusing some security personnel of abandoning their primary duty of protecting citizens.
“Security operatives should not focus on collecting money from ordinary citizens or serving as escorts to politicians’ wives. They should be deployed with clear directives to defend Nigerians, without political interference,” he said.
Haruna also backed calls for self-defense in the face of growing insecurity in the region, insisting that citizens have a constitutional right to protect themselves when necessary.
He urged the federal government to take urgent steps to improve infrastructure and ensure effective security in the North-East, stressing that the politicization of insecurity was deepening the region’s challenges.
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