The Federal Government has dismissed allegations of uneven development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that his administration has demonstrated fairness, justice, and equity in distributing infrastructure projects, appointments, and opportunities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said in Abuja at the weekend that President Tinubu’s flagship projects clearly show balance — citing the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway in the south and the Sokoto–Badagry superhighway in the north as proof of equal commitment to national progress.
According to him, 52% of federal road projects are located in northern Nigeria, while 48% are in the south. He disclosed that the government has also secured N150 billion and N100 billion for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna, while Lagos and Ogun are witnessing their own metro expansions. Collectively, rail investments are projected to generate over 250,000 jobs.
Data presented by Idris showed that the northwest has so far received the largest capital allocation — N5.97 trillion, representing over 40% of project approvals. The south-south follows with N2.41 trillion, north-central N1.13 trillion, southwest (excluding Lagos) N604 billion, southeast N407 billion, and northeast N400 billion.
The minister listed legacy projects currently under construction: the 750km Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Cross River), the 1,068km Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway (Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ogun, Lagos), the 465km Trans-Sahara Highway (Ebonyi axis), and the redesigned 439km Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road. He also highlighted key works like the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano dualisation, the 2nd Niger Bridge access roads, the East–West highway, and the Bodo–Bonny Road in Rivers State.
Beyond transport, Tinubu’s administration has revived the 255MW Kaduna Power Plant, fast-tracked the AKK Gas Pipeline, advanced oil exploration in Bauchi and Gombe, and raised the Kano–Maradi rail line to 67% completion from just 5%. These, Idris said, underscore a “balanced commitment to national growth and energy security.”
He further argued that Tinubu has been fair with federal appointments, citing the creation of five new regional development commissions and the Ministry of Livestock Development as evidence of inclusivity. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is building national infrastructure, not local trophies. His leadership is inclusive, his vision is unifying, and his commitment to justice is unwavering. No part of this country will be left behind,” Idris declared.
The defence comes amid growing opposition claims that Tinubu’s government favours some regions more than others — a charge the administration insists is political mischief, not backed by facts.
