By Francis Ajuonuma
The Federal Government on Sunday dismissed allegations of lop-sidedness in the distribution of projects, insisting that President Bola Tinubu has been “fair to all sections of Nigeria” in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said in Abuja that claims of sectional neglect were politically motivated and not supported by verifiable facts.
“The figures are clear. The North-West has emerged as the biggest beneficiary with ₦5.97 trillion worth of projects, representing more than 40 per cent of all federal approvals,” Idris said.
“The North Central follows with ₦1.13 trillion, the South-South accounts for ₦2.41 trillion, while the South West (excluding Lagos), South East and North East received ₦604 billion, ₦407 billion and ₦400 billion respectively. No part of this country has been excluded.”
*Information Minister, Idris, debunks views of marginalisation by North, other regions
The Minister listed multi-trillion naira investments that he said were transforming the North-west into a new industrial and energy hub.
“In Kebbi and Sokoto, we have the Badagry–Sokoto Superhighway under construction. The Abuja–Kaduna–Kano expressway has consistently received substantial funding. In Kano, new bypasses are being built to ease congestion in one of Nigeria’s busiest cities.
“We have revived the 255MW Kaduna power plant, and work on the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline has been accelerated. Oil exploration in the Kolmani axis of Bauchi and Gombe has equally advanced. These are tangible realities, not promises,” Idris declared.
He also highlighted projects that are redefining the North Central, stressing that the zone has not been left out.
“The Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe corridor is being redesigned with more durable pavement. The Lokoja–Okene dualisation is expanding a vital artery that links Abuja to the South. In Benue, inter-regional highways are being reconstructed to connect the state to the South East.
“Alongside this, hundreds of primary healthcare centres across the zone have been rehabilitated to demonstrate this administration’s twin commitment to social and physical infrastructure,” he explained.
Responding to claims that the South was being neglected, Idris pointed to several iconic projects that were underway.
“In the South, the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Nigeria’s history,” he said.
“We are rehabilitating major bridges in Lagos and opening up maritime corridors. But it is also important to note that the North accounts for 52 per cent of the total length of all federal legacy road projects under construction. This is not sectionalism; it is balance.”
The Minister emphasised that inclusivity extends to appointments and regional development commissions.
“This government has established new regional development commissions to re-kick-start growth in all zones. President Tinubu is not building sectional trophies but national infrastructure,” he stressed. “The facts are clear: this administration is laying the foundation for a connected and balanced Nigeria where no part of the country is left behind.”
Idris urged Nigerians to disregard propaganda, insisting that data, not sentiment, backs the administration’s equity-driven approach.
