President Bola Tinubu has enjoined state governors to prioritise essential infrastructure projects and welfare of the citizens rather than building needless flyovers and projects that do not add values to the people. The President said that building roads to enhance better connectivity is vital to reducing insecurity, unlocking economic opportunities and improving Nigerians’ quality of life.
Tinubu gave the advice when he received traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President observed that fiscal reforms have increased states’ resources and urged governors to invest those funds in projects that deliver real benefits to citizens rather than costly prestige projects with little public value. He argued that with the increase in allocation to states, there is no excuse for governors at the moment, unlike what obtained in the past.
The President emphasised that building roads in underserved communities will boost economic activities and enhance faster access to security agencies in response to emergencies. He stressed that investment in strategic infrastructure is imperative, especially as the country intensifies efforts to defeat terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.
“The money going to the states today is four to five times what they used to receive. Nobody is borrowing to pay salaries anymore, and pensioners are receiving their entitlements. Instead of building flyovers where there is no significant traffic, build roads and arterial networks that improve access, enhance quality of life and enable security agencies to reach vulnerable communities quickly,” he said. The President added that infrastructure planning should be driven by the needs of the people and national security priorities.
The President’s advice is timely and commendable. Nigeria is littered with white elephants and infrastructure that do not impact on the welfare of the people. Among these are flyovers and bridges in states that do not have traffic congestion. Some governors have embarked on building new needless airports, including those that have airports already. Some of the states are now rushing to float airlines, which are capital intensive instead of attending to the welfare and needs of their citizens.
Unfortunately, while the states embark on the money-guzzling projects that are often in the capital cities, little attention is paid to the rural roads, making it difficult for prompt response by security agents during emergencies. While the states deploy so much money on needless projects, the citizens are left to wallow in abject poverty, misery and rising insecurity. The governors should heed the advice of the president and prioritise worthwhile projects and the welfare of the people. They should pay more attention to rural development and poverty reduction programmes.
In fact, all tiers of government must work in concert to address the escalating poverty in the country. Figures from the World Bank and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Nigeria’s poverty index are frightening. According to the World Bank, poverty in Nigeria rose to 63 per cent in 2025, despite a slowdown in inflation, indicating the limited impact of recent macroeconomic improvements on household welfare.
The global bank made the disclosure in its Nigeria Development Update (April 2026) titled “Nigeria’s Tomorrow Must Start Today: The Case for Early Childhood Development,” which was released recently. According to the report, Nigerians living below the poverty line increased from 56 per cent in 2023 to 61 per cent in 2024, before peaking at 63 per cent in 2025.
Also, official figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), indicated that 40.1per cent of Nigeria’s population lived below the national absolute poverty line, meaning about 82.9 million Nigerians were classified as poor. The figures from the World Bank and NBS are disturbing. Nigerians are already experiencing rising hunger and other economic deprivations.
The governors should ensure the welfare of their citizens, including workers. They should also take care of the pensioners. Let the governors embark on people-centred projects. They must pay attention to neglected rural roads, health, education and agriculture. In most states, the condition of primary schools is appalling. The same can equally apply to their secondary schools, which are poorly equipped and staffed.
Prioritising the welfare of the citizens should be the primary concern of the government at all levels. We also call on the governors to ensure effective governance at the local government level. We believe that having a functional and efficient local government system will enhance the nation’s security and overall development.
(The Sun)
