- Tinubu Government Defends Fair Distribution of Projects, Appointments
- He noted that each of the six geopolitical zones now has a regional development commission
- He revealed that the North West has ₦5.97 trillion worth of projects
The Federal Government has rejected claims of bias in appointments and the distribution of capital projects, asserting that all regions are included in its development agenda.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the Tinubu administration is committed to balanced infrastructure development.
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He noted that each of the six geopolitical zones now has a regional development commission to promote growth.
He pointed to key projects as evidence of this balance. The Lagos to Calabar Coastal Highway serves the southern region, while the 1,068-kilometer Badagry to Sokoto Superhighway connects the northern states. According to Idris, this balance is reflected across all major infrastructure initiatives.
Idris highlighted ongoing investments in roads, bridges, railways, power, and healthcare. He announced secured funding for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna, valued at ₦150 billion and ₦100 billion respectively. Metro rail projects in Lagos and Ogun are also part of a national light rail strategy, expected to generate over 250,000 jobs.
He emphasized the importance of the Eastern Corridor rail rehabilitation from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and reported that over 1,000 primary healthcare centres have been upgraded nationwide.
Providing a breakdown of project allocations, he revealed that the North West has ₦5.97 trillion worth of projects, accounting for over 40 percent of total approvals.
The South South follows with ₦2.41 trillion, North Central ₦1.13 trillion, South East ₦407 billion, North East ₦400 billion, and South West (excluding Lagos) ₦604 billion.
Idris stressed that road projects are fairly distributed. He cited major routes like the 750-kilometer Lagos to Calabar Highway, the 465-kilometer Trans Sahara Highway, and the Akwanga to Jos to Bauchi to Gombe Road, which is being redesigned with rigid pavement for durability. He added that 52 percent of major road projects are in the North, while 48 percent are in the South.
In the North, key projects include the dualisation of the 275-kilometer Sokoto to Gusau to Funtua to Zaria Road (₦824 billion), the 350-kilometer Abuja to Kaduna to Kano Road (₦764 billion), and the 256-kilometer BUA Tax Credit Road covering parts of Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano. Other significant works are ongoing in Borno, Kebbi, and Yobe.
In the South West, projects include the Lagos to Ibadan Expressway, Lagos to Sagamu Road, Oyo to Ogbomoso to Ilorin Road, and the refurbishment of Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko Bridges, all valued at ₦120 billion. The South East has projects like the Enugu to Onitsha Highway, access roads to the Second Niger Bridge, and the Enugu to Abakaliki Road. In the South South, major efforts include the ₦200 billion Bodo to Bonny Road with 12 bridges, as well as the Eleme to Onne Road and parts of the East to West Road.
Idris also mentioned the revival of the 255 MW Kaduna Power Plant, progress on the AKK Gas Project, and expanded oil exploration in Bauchi and Gombe. He said the Kano to Maradi rail project, which was only five percent complete when Tinubu took office, has now reached 67 percent.
He concluded by saying that President Tinubu is focused on building national infrastructure rather than local prestige projects. While Lagos remains the commercial capital, the North West receives the highest number of project approvals, which he said reflects a fair and inclusive approach. On federal appointments, Idris emphasized that the President chooses competent individuals from across the country, based on merit rather than regional interests.
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