Tinubu Urges Governors To Prioritise Roads, Critical Infrastructure Over White Elephant Projects

Tinubu urges governors to prioritise roads, critical infrastructure over white elephant projects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged state governors to prioritise investments in roads and other critical infrastructure over what he described as white elephant projects, saying improved connectivity is essential to tackling insecurity, stimulating economic growth and improving the quality of life of Nigerians. The President made the call at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja. He noted that governors now have significantly more financial resources following his administration’s fiscal reforms and should channel the increased allocations into projects that directly benefit citizens. Tinubu said expanding road networks, particularly in underserved and rural communities, would not only boost economic activities but also improve the ability of security agencies to respond swiftly to emergencies and combat criminal activities. According to him, infrastructure development and national security are closely interconnected. “The money going to the states today is four to five times what they used to receive. Nobody is borrowing to pay salaries anymore, and pensioners are receiving their entitlements,” the President said, urging governors to ensure prudent management of public funds. He advised state governments against constructing expensive projects with limited public value, such as flyovers in areas with little traffic, stressing that resources should instead be directed towards building roads and transport networks that improve access to communities, enhance economic productivity and strengthen security operations. Tinubu maintained that infrastructure planning should be guided by the needs of the people and the country’s security priorities, adding that sustained investment in strategic infrastructure would help unlock economic opportunities, facilitate the delivery of government services and support efforts to curb terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes. Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, appealed to the President to intervene in funding the long-abandoned Millennium Tower project in Abuja. Wike said completing the project would require between ₦300 billion and ₦400 billion, a sum beyond the financial capacity of the FCT Administration, and proposed that it be reclassified as a national project eligible for direct federal funding.