FG Dismisses Allegations of Lopsided Development, Says Tinubu Ensuring Fair Spread of Projects Nationwide

The Federal Government has dismissed allegations of lopsided development under President Bola Tinubu, insisting that his administration is guided by fairness, justice, and equity in distributing projects, appointments, and opportunities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, in a statement over the weekend, said contrary to insinuations and misinformation, the administration has demonstrated “uncommon commitment” to inclusivity and balanced national development since assuming office.

He explained that flagship infrastructure projects are evenly spread across the country. While the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway traverses the southern corridor, the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway cuts across the north, with similar balance reflected in other ongoing projects. Idris said massive interventions are simultaneously underway in roads, bridges, rail, and power. He disclosed that N150 billion and N100 billion have been secured for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna, while metroline projects are advancing in Lagos and Ogun. Collectively, these rail investments are expected to generate over 250,000 jobs nationwide.

The minister added that rehabilitation of the eastern corridor rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri is ongoing, alongside the upgrading of over 1,000 primary health care centres across the country. Citing official data, he said the northwest has so far received the largest allocation of capital projects at N5.97 trillion, representing over 40 percent of approvals. This is followed by the south-south with N2.41 trillion, north central with N1.13 trillion, south west (excluding Lagos) with N604 billion, south east with N407 billion, and north east with N400 billion.

Idris listed major legacy projects under Tinubu, including the 750km Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (ongoing across Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom), the 1,068km Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway (ongoing in Kebbi and Sokoto), the 465km Trans-Sahara Highway (ongoing in Ebonyi), and the 439km Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road. According to him, 52 percent of road projects are located in the north and 48 percent in the south. Other priority works include the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano dualisation, BUA Tax Credit Roads in the north, the 2nd Niger Bridge access roads, East–West Road works, Bodo–Bonny Road, and key bridge rehabilitations in the south.

Beyond road and rail, he highlighted the revival of the 255MW Kaduna Power Plant, the fast-tracking of the AKK Gas Project, expanded oil exploration in Bauchi and Gombe, and the advancement of the Kano–Maradi rail project from 5 percent to 67 percent completion. Other projects in the north include the Sokoto–Gusau–Funtua–Zaria Road (275km, N824bn), Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road (350km, N764bn), BUA Tax Credit Road in Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano (256km), Zaria–Hunkuyi Road (156km), Kano Northern Bypass (49km), Kano–Maiduguri Road (100.9km), Bama and Dikwa Roads in Borno (100km), Damaturu–Maiduguri Road (110km), Malando Road in Kebbi (76km), Benue–9th Mile Road (250km, $958m), Lokoja–Okene Dualisation (86km), and Kaduna–Katsina Roads (N150bn).

In the south, projects include the Lagos–Ibadan road (8.5km, N33bn), Lagos–Sagamu dualisation (12km), Oyo–Ogbomoso–Ilorin road (N146bn), and the rehabilitation of Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko bridges (N120bn). For the south east, ongoing works include the Enugu–Onitsha Road (107km, N202bn via MTN Tax Credit), another Enugu–Onitsha stretch (72km, N150bn via CBC), Enugu–Abakaliki Road (36km), the 2nd Niger Bridge access road (17.5km, N175bn), and the Lokpanta–Enugu Road (61km, N100bn). In the south-south, projects include the Eleme–Onne Road (30km, N156bn), Eket Bypass (9.7km, N76bn), East–West Road Section 2 (N186bn), Nembe–Brass Road (N150bn), Lokoja–Benin Dualisation Bridge Access Road in Delta (17km, N146bn), and the 35km Bodo–Bonny Road in Rivers with 12 bridges valued at N200bn.

On appointments, Idris stressed that inclusivity remains central to the Renewed Hope Agenda, pointing to the establishment of five new regional development commissions and the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as evidence of fairness and national balance.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is building national infrastructure, not local trophies. His leadership is inclusive, his vision is unifying, and his commitment to equity and justice is unwavering. Nigerians can rest assured that under his watch, no part of this country will be left behind” the minister said.