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How Tinubu Govt Misled Nigerians, Credited North-East, North-Central Projects To North-West – Report

BySodiq Lawal

PublishedSeptember 1, 2025

The Bola Tinubu administration has come under scrutiny after a review by SaharaReporters exposed discrepancies in its recently released national infrastructure progress report, raising questions about transparency and regional equity in the government’s project allocations.

On Monday, the Presidency unveiled what it described as “Infrastructure Equity for Every Region. Progress for Every Nigerian. The Renewed Hope Agenda in Action,” a document that claimed to highlight projects distributed fairly across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

However, findings by SaharaReporters revealed that the figures attributed to the North-West region were inflated, with several projects originally sited in the North-East and North-Central dubiously credited to the zone to boost its numbers.

For instance, the 110-kilometre Damaturu–Maiduguri road was listed among North-Western projects, despite being located in Yobe and Borno states, both in the North-East.

Similarly, the Bama and Dikwa roads in Borno State were credited to the North-West, while the Lokoja–Okene road dualisation in Kogi State, a North-Central project, was also misclassified.

Further review revealed that the Benue–9th Mile road was similarly presented as a North-Western project even though it cuts through Benue and Enugu states, far outside the zone. In some instances, the government was found to have double-counted, listing the same projects under their rightful regions and again under the North-West.

The revelations have fuelled concerns about the credibility of the Tinubu administration’s claims of equitable development. In April, the Presidency had insisted that appointments and projects under the current government would continue to be guided by “merit, integrity, geographical spread, and demonstrable capacity to serve Nigerians,” a statement issued following Senator Ali Ndume’s accusation of regional bias.

Ndume, who represents Borno South, had earlier alleged that President Tinubu had violated the federal character principle in his appointments. In July, the Arewa Consultative Forum also accused the government of sidelining the North in budget allocations and critical infrastructure, despite the region’s significant contribution to Tinubu’s electoral victory.

“The North, which contributed over 64 per cent of Tinubu’s total votes in the 2023 general elections, has been largely excluded from critical policy decisions and project implementation,” ACF Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, said at a citizen engagement forum in Kaduna.

Earlier reviews of the administration’s infrastructure progress report had equally shown that the South-East and North-East were the least beneficiaries, further deepening concerns over alleged lopsidedness in federal project distribution.

Sodiq Lawal

Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.