Tinubu’s regional agenda: Favouring the South, detrimental to the North
Nigeria’s foundational principles rests on inclusive representation, with its structure encompassing wards, local governments, states, and regions. While Nigerian law has established formula for resource allocation, an analysis of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s recent actions suggests a potential regional imbalance. For instance, the administration approved a substantial ₦900 billion plan for nationwide aviation infrastructure […]
Nigeria’s foundational principles rests on inclusive representation, with its structure encompassing wards, local governments, states, and regions. While Nigerian law has established formula for resource allocation, an analysis of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s recent actions suggests a potential regional imbalance.
For instance, the administration approved a substantial ₦900 billion plan for nationwide aviation infrastructure revitalisation. Within this plan, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State was allocated a significant of ₦ 712.26 Billion, accounting for approximately 79 per cent of the total budget. In stark contrast, the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano received only ₦ 46.39 billion, representing about five per cent of the total.
This disparity in allocation, where Lagos received approximately 15 times more funding than Kano, raises concerns about equitable treatment. Both Lagos and Kano are significant economic and population centres within Nigeria. From this perspective, the substantial difference in funding warrants closer examination, especially considering that Kano’s airport infrastructure is arguably in greater need of upgrade compared to Lagos.
Prominent Northern figures, such as former Kano State Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, along with groups like the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), have accused President Tinubu’s government of favouring southern development. We commend their efforts and believe their concerns warrant amplification.
The clear and grave regional imbalance of President Tinubu’s Administration can further be demonstrated by the Federal Ministry of Works’ 2025 allocation of funds for National Road Projects as follows:
- South West: ₦1.394 Trillion
- South East: ₦205 Billion
- North West: ₦105 Billion
- North East: ₦30 Billion
One might think that all roads in the North are heaven-sent or were already completed with no potholes, suggesting no need for reconstruction or new construction.
Furthermore, in a recent request for a $21.5 billion loan, President Tinubu outlined expenditures for various projects that primarily benefit the South West, seemingly to the detriment of the North. This is particularly concerning given that the loan is being solicited for and in the name of the entirety of Nigeria. The financial allocations proposed for the South West from this loan request include:
- Lagos Green Line: $2 billion
- Western Sugar Grid, Lagos: $1.07 billion
- Lagos-Calabar: $700 million
- Lekki Access: $250 million
In total, the proposed projects for the South West amount to approximately $3.956 billion (₦500 billion). While such an allocation might be understandable if it were a state or regional loan, but it is a national loan. This situation raises critical questions: Is Northern Nigeria not part of Nigeria? Or does this substantiate the long-standing allegation against President Tinubu that he “does not believe in One Nigeria”? I believe this goes beyond mere injustice but suggests an underlying hidden agenda.
Lagos now appears to be a country within a country, while Kano and all other Northern states are left behind in terms of national development projects. If this administration continues in this manner to 2027, marking 21 years in power by the Southerners while the Northerners has enjoyed only 11 years in power, what will be the state of the North? It is my candid opinion that the North is becoming subservient to the South.
One might wonder: Does the North have adequate representation in this administration? If so, do these representatives prioritize their home region, and what answers do they have for their constituents? It has been said that Northerners are like chickens, and their representatives hold the “grain,” which is money. These and other questions demand answers from our representatives, including the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other top political officeholders.
Barr. Badamasi Suleiman Gandu can be reached through