President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday called on state governors to stop constructing unnecessary flyovers and white-elephant projects, and instead channel the significantly increased federal allocations into building roads and arterial networks that improve citizens’ quality of life and enhance security access to remote communities.
The President made the charge while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The traditional rulers had come to congratulate him on the successful rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area.
Tinubu noted that fiscal reforms under his administration have transformed state finances. “The money that I’m pushing to the states… they are taking four to five times their money. Nobody is borrowing money to pay salaries now. Pensioners are receiving their pay,” he said.
He directed his remarks particularly at traditional rulers who had previously served as governors, stating: “The money going to the states today is four to five times what they used to receive… If you had this money during your own time or during my time, it would have been different.”
The President urged governors to invest the increased revenues wisely: “They should do more instead of building flying over where there is no numeric traffic; build roads and artery networks to really enhance the quality of life and the accessibility of the security agencies to penetrate those areas.”
He emphasised that strategic road infrastructure is critical not only for economic activity but also for national security, enabling faster response by security forces to threats in underserved and forested communities.
President Tinubu linked the call for better infrastructure prioritisation to broader security reforms, including the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, plans to establish state police with safeguards against abuse, and the strengthening of forest guards to confront criminals operating in forests.
He reiterated that infrastructure planning must be driven by the real needs of the people and national security priorities rather than prestige projects with limited public value.
The Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that increased revenues at all levels of government translate into tangible improvements in living standards, economic opportunity, and the safety of Nigerians.