ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has voiced its condemnation of the decision to relocate key departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to Lagos.
The move, initiated by the CBN and the Federal Government of Nigeria, citing cost considerations and operational efficiency, has sparked concerns and opposition from the northern youth group.
The CBN, through an internal memo, outlined plans to transfer some departments to Lagos, aiming to optimize its operational environment, comply with building safety standards, and better utilize office space.
The memo partly reads, “This is to notify all staff members at the CBN Head Office that we have initiated a decongestion action plan designed to optimize the operational environment of the Bank.
“This initiative aims to ensure compliance with building safety standards and enhance the efficient utilization of our office space.
“This action is necessitated by several factors, including the need to align the Bank’s structure with its functions and objectives, redistribute skills to ensure a more even geographical spread of talent, and comply with building regulations, as indicated by repeated warnings from the Facility Manager, and the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Decongestion of the CBN Head Office.
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“The action plan focuses on optimizing the utilization of other Bank’s premises. With this plan, 1,533 staff will be moved to other CBN facilities within Abuja, Lagos and understaffed branches.
“Our current occupancy level of 4,233 significantly exceeds the optimal capacity of 2,700 designed for the Head Office building. This overcrowding poses several critical challenges.”
Similarly, the Federal Government of Nigeria, led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the relocation of FAAN’s headquarters from Abuja to Lagos.
AYCF President General, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, expressed apprehension during a press conference in Kaduna, highlighting potential negative consequences such as undermining national unity, disrupting operations, causing economic setbacks, and perpetuating regional imbalances.
Shettima stressed that Abuja’s role as the capital was crucial for promoting national unity and decentralizing power, and any attempt to alter this arrangement would face strong resistance from the north.
Shettima voiced disappointment at the perceived silence of the Northern elite regarding these relocations, urging them not to stay silent when the political and economic viability of the region is at stake.
AYCF called on well-meaning Nigerians to speak out against what they see as emerging arbitrariness and appealed to relevant authorities to reconsider the relocations in light of potential harm to Abuja’s status as the capital city.
“The organization urges decision-makers to prioritize national unity, ensuring that any actions taken do not perpetuate regional imbalances or compromise the political and economic viability of Northern Nigeria.
“AYCF remains committed to its mission of promoting unity and development in Northern Nigeria and the nation as a whole and vows to continue advocating for the preservation of Abuja’s status as the capital city and to resist any attempts to undermine national unity,” Shettima added.