ABUJA — The Federal Government has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has been guided by fairness, justice, and equity in the allocation of infrastructure projects, appointments, and opportunities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
In a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, the government dismissed claims of lopsided development, stressing that the Tinubu administration has demonstrated “uncommon commitment to balanced development and inclusivity” since assuming office.
According to the statement, all six regions now have Regional Development Commissions in addition to projects being implemented by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
The government cited ongoing flagship road projects, including the 750-kilometre Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway with 175 kilometres currently under construction in Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States; the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway with 378 kilometres ongoing in Kebbi and Sokoto; the 465-kilometre Trans-Sahara Highway with 118 kilometres underway in Ebonyi; and the 439-kilometre Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road being redesigned to rigid pavement.
It explained that 52 percent of the total length of these projects is located in the North, while 48 percent is in the South.
On rail infrastructure, the government disclosed that N150 billion and N100 billion have been secured for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna, respectively. It added that metroline expansions in Lagos and Ogun are ongoing, alongside the rehabilitation of the Eastern Corridor rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.
The government also announced that over 1,000 primary health care centres have been rehabilitated nationwide as part of efforts to strengthen social infrastructure.
Presenting figures on capital project allocations, the statement said the Northwest is the highest beneficiary with N5.97 trillion, representing over 40 percent of approvals. Other regions include 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.
The statement further listed major projects by region.
In the North, ongoing works include the Sokoto–Gusau–Funtua–Zaria Road (275 km, N824bn), Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road (350 km, N764bn), and the BUA Tax Credit Road spanning Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano (256 km). Others are the Kano Northern Bypass, Kano–Maiduguri Road, Bama and Dikwa Roads in Borno, Damaturu–Maiduguri Road, Malando Road in Kebbi, and Kaduna–Katsina Roads.
In the South, projects include the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, Lagos–Sagamu dualisation, Oyo–Ogbomoso–Ilorin Road, and rehabilitation of Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko Bridges.
In the South East, projects include the Enugu–Onitsha Road funded via tax credits, Enugu–Abakaliki Road, Lokpanta–Enugu Road, and the 2nd Niger Bridge access roads.
For the South-South, highlighted projects include Eleme–Onne Road, Eket Bypass, East–West Road Section 2, Nembe–Brass Road, Lokoja–Benin dualisation, Bodo–Bonny Road in Rivers with 12 bridges, and parts of the 2nd Niger Bridge access roads in Delta State.
The federal government projected that ongoing projects across the federation will generate over 250,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.
“No region is being treated as second fiddle. Every geopolitical zone is captured in the Renewed Hope development agenda,” the statement concluded.
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