Northwest Got Largest Share of Projects at ₦5.97tn, FG States in Defence of Tinubu

By Eshiorameh Sebastian in Abuja

The Federal Government has stated that the Northwest geopolitical zone received the largest allocation of infrastructure funding under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, with approved projects totalling ₦5.97 trillion.

This figure represents over 40 percent of the total capital project approvals distributed across the country’s six zones since the government took office. The announcement was made in a detailed press statement issued on Sunday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, aimed at countering what it described as “recent insinuations, half-truths and fake information” regarding the regional distribution of projects and appointments.

According to the statement, the administration has been guided by principles of “fairness, justice, and equity” in sharing federal projects, appointments, and opportunities. It emphasised that President Tinubu’s government is building “national infrastructure, not local trophies,” and provided extensive data to support its claim of balanced development.

Following the Northwest, the South-South region received ₦2.41 trillion worth of projects, while the North Central was allocated ₦1.13 trillion. The South West, excluding Lagos, was approved for ₦604 billion in projects, whereas the South East received ₦407 billion and the North East ₦400 billion.

The government highlighted several high-profile infrastructure initiatives to demonstrate its nationwide focus. The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, spanning 750 kilometres, is currently under construction with 175 kilometres ongoing in Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States. In the North, the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway has 378 kilometres underway in Kebbi and Sokoto.

The administration also noted the Trans-Sahara Highway, with 118 kilometres ongoing in Ebonyi State, and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road, which is being redesigned for improved durability. Overall, the government stated that 52 percent of the total length of these legacy road projects is in the North, while 48 percent is in the South.

In the Northwest and other northern regions, significant investments include the dualisation of the Sokoto–Gusau–Funtua–Zaria Road, a 275-kilometre project costing ₦824 billion, and the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road, a 350-kilometre dual carriageway with an allocation of ₦764 billion. Additional projects are the BUA Tax Credit Road in Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano, covering 256 kilometres; the Zaria–Hunkuyi Road; the Kano Northern Bypass; and several key routes in Borno and Kebbi States, such as the Damaturu–Maiduguri Road and the Malando Road. The Benue–9th Mile Road, a 250-kilometre dualisation project valued at $958 million, and the Lokoja–Okene Dualisation were also mentioned, alongside the Kaduna–Katsina Roads, which received ₦150 billion.

For the southern regions, the government listed major projects including the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, which has an 8.5-kilometre section costing ₦33 billion; the dualisation of the Lagos–Sagamu Road; and the Oyo–Ogbomoso–Ilorin Road, allocated ₦146 billion.

Rehabilitation works on Lagos’s Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko Bridges are budgeted at ₦120 billion. In the South East, key projects include the Enugu–Onitsha Road, with two sections receiving ₦202 billion and ₦150 billion respectively; the Enugu–Abakaliki Road; the Second Niger Bridge Access Road, a 17.5-kilometre dualised route costing ₦175 billion; and the Lokpanta–Enugu Road, allocated ₦100 billion. The South South zone is benefiting from the Eleme–Onne Road (₦156 billion), the Eket Bypass (₦76 billion), the East–West Road Section 2 (₦186 billion), the Nembe–Brass Road (₦150 billion), the Lokoja–Benin Dualisation (₦167 billion), another segment of the Second Niger Bridge Access Road in Delta (₦146 billion), and the Bodo–Bonny Road in Rivers State, which includes 12 bridges and has a budget of ₦200 billion.

Beyond road infrastructure, the statement pointed to significant developments in rail and energy. The administration has secured funding for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna, amounting to ₦150 billion and ₦100 billion respectively, while metroline projects are advancing in Lagos and Ogun States. These rail initiatives are collectively expected to create over 250,000 jobs nationwide. The government has also revived the 255MW Kaduna Power Plant, advanced the AKK Gas Project, and expanded oil and gas exploration in the North, with three oil wells drilled in the Kolmani region of Bauchi and Gombe States. The Kano-Maradi rail line, inherited at 5% completion, has now reached 67% due to increased funding. Additionally, over 1,000 primary healthcare centres have been rehabilitated across the country.

Minister Idris emphasised that the government’s commitment to equity is also reflected in federal appointments, stating that President Tinubu has consistently selected capable Nigerians from every region based on competence and inclusivity.

The establishment of five new Regional Development Commissions and the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development were cited as further evidence of the President’s determination to address Nigeria’s diverse developmental needs. The statement concluded by affirming that President Tinubu’s leadership is “inclusive, his vision is unifying, and his commitment to equity and justice is unwavering,” assuring Nigerians that “no part of this country will be left behind” under his administration.

The comprehensive data and project listings provided by the Federal Government aim to offer a transparent verifiable account of its investment strategy and counter circulating narratives about regional marginalisation. This detailed breakdown is part of a broader effort to demonstrate that the Renewed Hope Agenda is being implemented with geographic balance and a focus on national integration.