The Federal Government has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is concentrating projects in Lagos and the South-West, insisting that the North-West is the biggest beneficiary of federal approvals.
The clarification followed a newspaper report which alleged that Lagos and the South-West cornered ₦3.9 trillion worth of projects in the last two years — more than the combined ₦3.56 trillion approved for the South-East, North-West, and North-East.
But in a detailed response, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, described the report as misleading.
He explained that several national infrastructure projects, such as federal highways and transport corridors, were wrongly categorized as “Lagos-only projects.”
“The North-West is the true largest beneficiary of the Tinubu administration with projects valued at ₦5.7 trillion — more than 40 per cent of total approvals,” Yakubu said.
He stressed that exclusive projects in Lagos amount to about ₦1.2 trillion, while the South-West (excluding Lagos) accounts for only ₦604 billion.
“The viral chart exaggerated Lagos’ share while downplaying the North’s gains.
“The truth is, Nigeria is being stitched together through infrastructure, not divided,” he added.
Yakubu highlighted ongoing projects such as the Kaduna Power Plant, the Kaduna–Kano Expressway, the Kano–Maiduguri Highway, and the Sokoto–Illela corridor as evidence of deliberate investment in the North-West. “Without the North-West, there would be no Tinubu presidency.
“The President knows this and has been deliberate in rewarding the region,” he said.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also faulted the report, describing it as “half-truths” designed to incite regional rivalry.
“Contrary to the perception being pushed in some quarters, this administration has demonstrated fairness and inclusivity in project distribution.
“Major infrastructure projects are ongoing across all six geopolitical zones, from highways and bridges to rail, power, and health facilities,” Idris said.
The minister cited projects such as the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road, Kano–Maradi Rail, the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the 2nd Niger Bridge Access Roads, and the Bodo–Bonny Road, stressing that over 1,000 primary healthcare centres have also been rehabilitated nationwide.
According to Idris, project distribution data show the North-West leading with ₦5.97 trillion approvals, followed by the South-South with ₦2.41 trillion, while the South-East has ₦407 billion and the North-East ₦400 billion.
“President Tinubu is building national infrastructure, not local trophies. Lagos is rightly upgraded as Nigeria’s commercial hub, but the North-West holds the lion’s share of approvals.
“Every region is receiving fair consideration,” Idris insisted.
He further assured that Tinubu’s appointments and the establishment of new Regional Development Commissions reflect his commitment to equity and inclusivity.
“No part of this country will be left behind,” the minister said.
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