The Federal Government on Sunday dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has concentrated projects and spending in Lagos and the South-west at the expense of northern regions.
A weekend newspaper report alleged that projects worth N3.9 trillion were approved for Lagos and the South-west in the past two years—more than the combined N3.56 trillion allocated to the South-east, North-west and North-east.
But Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, described the figures as “misleading,” saying they wrongly classified national highways and transport corridors as Lagos-only projects.
“By that logic, the Kano–Maiduguri expressway could be called a ‘Maiduguri-only project.’ These are national arteries, not local trophies,” Yakubu said in a statement.
He maintained that the North-west is the single largest beneficiary of federal approvals, with projects worth about N5.7 trillion—over 40 per cent of total spending—while Lagos accounts for roughly N1.2 trillion in exclusive projects.
Yakubu listed ongoing works such as the Kaduna Power Plant, Kaduna–Kano expressway, Kano–Maiduguri highway and investments in education and security infrastructure as evidence of the administration’s focus on the region.
“The North-west—not Lagos—holds the lion’s share. This is not neglect; it is recognition and gratitude,” he said.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also rejected suggestions of sectional bias, insisting the Tinubu government has pursued balanced development.
He cited light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna, the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, and rehabilitation of the Eastern Corridor rail line among major northern projects. In the South, he listed the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Carter and Third Mainland Bridge works, and the Second Niger Bridge access roads.
“From highways to rail and power projects, every region has a fair share. Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial hub, rightly upgraded. The North-west is Nigeria’s electoral fortress, richly rewarded,” Idris said.
He added that equity is also reflected in federal appointments, with Tinubu prioritising competence and inclusivity across all six geopolitical zones
