The Nigerian government has dismissed claims of bias in the distribution of national projects and appointments, insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been fair to all regions of the country.
In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on behalf of the government, he said insinuations of marginalisation and uneven development were misleading, stressing that the administration’s policies and programmes are guided by the principles of fairness, justice, and equity.
According to the statement, major infrastructure projects are being executed simultaneously across the six geopolitical zones, with no region left behind. It cited the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway in the South and the Badagry–Sokoto Superhighway in the North as examples of balanced investments.
The government also disclosed that funding has been secured for new metro and light rail projects in Lagos, Ogun, Kano and Kaduna States, collectively expected to generate more than 250,000 jobs nationwide. Rehabilitation works are also ongoing on the Eastern rail corridor linking Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, alongside over 1,000 primary healthcare centres across the country.
Data released by the government showed the Northwest as the biggest beneficiary of federal approvals, receiving about ₦5.97 trillion, over 40 per cent of allocations. Other regions recorded the following: South-South ₦2.41 trillion; North Central ₦1.13 trillion; Southeast ₦407 billion; Northeast ₦400 billion; and Southwest (excluding Lagos) ₦604 billion.
Among the legacy projects listed are the 750 km Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the 1,068 km Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road, and several major road dualisations across northern and southern states.
Beyond roads, the statement highlighted progress on the Kaduna Power Plant, the AKK Gas Project, the Kano–Maradi rail line and expanded oil exploration in the Kolmani region of Bauchi and Gombe States.
The government also defended President Tinubu’s appointments, saying he has consistently selected Nigerians from every region based on competence and inclusivity. It added that the creation of new Regional Development Commissions and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development reflected the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda to address Nigeria’s unique developmental needs.
“President Tinubu is building national infrastructure, not local trophies,” the statement read.
“His leadership is inclusive, his vision is unifying, and his commitment to equity and justice is unwavering. Nigerians can rest assured that under his watch, no part of this country will be left behind.”