₦airaland Forum

Visible investments in road infrastructure, healthcare and education in some North-Central states are shaping a new political narrative in a region where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the 2023 Presidential election by a relatively slim margin. The President had secured 1,760,993 votes, representing 41.3 per cent of the votes cast across the North-Central in the 2023 presidential election but the margin was not wide enough to make the region an electoral stronghold.

Three years later, visible infrastructure and the increased capacity of state governments to undertake development projects in Kogi, Benue and Nasarawa States could strengthen Tinubu’s acceptance ahead of the 2027 elections.

A nationwide media tour of government projects organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team has so far taken journalists through the three states in the geo-political zone and the feedback is broadly similar.

Beyond the political statements of government officials, residents and community leaders spoke of roads linking farming communities, bridges ending dangerous river crossings, hospitals expanding specialist services, flyovers easing congestion and skills acquisition centres creating opportunities for women and youths.

In Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule said the state’s monthly allocation had risen from N4.5 billion before the removal of the fuel subsidy to about N16 billion currently, attributing the state’s increased capacity for execution of projects to the administration’s reforms.

“Executing all the projects without borrowing from the bank is because of the Federal Government’s support. So, you must give the President credit for that,” Sule said.

Among the projects inspected in the state were the N44 billion Mararaba flyover designed to address chronic congestion on the Abuja-Keffi corridor, the Keffi flyover, Akwanga road and underpass projects. There is also the Kilema-Tudun Amba bridge and stormwater channel in Lafia.

The Mararaba project, expected to be completed in December this year, will reduce travel time between Abuja and Keffi from over two hours to less than 40 minutes.

In Benue State, the ongoing Buruku Bridge across the Katsina-Ala River is expected to enhance movement for communities that have relied on boats to cross the river for decades.

Also, the 854-metre dual carriage bridge is expected to link communities in Benue with Taraba State and provide a strategic corridor connecting the North-Central with the North-East.

Benue State Deputy Governor, Samuel Ode, described the project as a “golden gift” to the people, recalling the deaths and boat accidents that have occurred on the river over the years.

According to him, the bridge will equally serve agricultural communities, particularly the Sankera axis – a major yam-producing belt – by making it easier for farmers to move their produce to markets.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said such projects provide a practical response to critics of the Federal Government’s borrowing spree.

“Government has been accused of borrowing money, but we can see where the money is going into – to develop infrastructure, link communities and to ensure free flow of commerce,” Onanuga said.

Benue’s development strides extend beyond roads. About N20 billion has reportedly been invested in the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in the last three years, expanding specialist services, diagnostic facilities and manpower. A cancer centre is under construction, while the hospital’s In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) centre provides assisted reproductive treatment at a subsidised cost.

The Chief Medical Director, Dr. Terungwa S. Hwande, said the hospital is attracting patients from different states of the federation including Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, Enugu and the FCT, Abuja.

The state is also seeking to translate its agricultural advantage into industrial activity through the rehabilitation of Taraku Mills and the development of the Food Basket Brewery and other processing ventures for job creation and value addition from agricultural production.

In Kogi State, the ongoing Iyale-Ogane-Enugu Road in Dekina Local Council reflects government’s efforts to connect rural communities with markets.

Residents of Otutulu and neighbouring farming settlements expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for the long-awaited road.

Amodu Joseph Silvas said the project has restored confidence in the communities that had endured years of unfulfilled promises.

“This road has been the prayer of our forefathers. Unfortunately, many of them are not alive to witness what we are seeing today. It is a thing of joy for our people because government remembered us.

“We are grateful to President Tinubu for supporting the governor. We also appreciate Governor Ododo for using the resources available to him to remember communities like ours,” Silvas said.

The road is expected to improve transportation of farm produce from the hinterland where poor transportation had led to post-harvest losses and discouraged agricultural activity.

In Benue State, the deputy governor pledged to deliver one million votes for Tinubu in 2027. According to him, the state hopes to achieve this by ensuring that it fulfils its 2023 campaign promises.

The media tour, launched recently to enable journalists inspect federal and state projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda, has provided opportunities to examine the link between federal reforms, increased state revenues and projects being delivered across the states.

Sheuns:
4.5bn under Buhari was $10,000,000

16bn under Tinubu is $12,307,693

That’s just a little over $2M increase.

Napata77:
We are not in America, Mr Man.

We don't pay for everything we do in dollars, so take that nonsense away.

Many of these projects are being paid for in Naira to indigenous contractors.

ALSO, in addition to the standard monthly allocation, the FG distributed a special ₦435 billion infrastructure and security intervention fund to state governments during the first half of 2026 alone to support state projects.

The vastly increased number and scale of infrastructural projects in all the states is clear evidence of VASTLY INCREASED allocation from Abuja, so go and sit down with this your fake calculation. The FG is PUMPING the states with money to build up their infrastructure.

Napata77:
We are not in America, Mr Man.

We don't pay for everything we do in dollars, so take that nonsense away.

Many of these projects are being paid for in Naira to indigenous contractors.

ALSO, in addition to the standard monthly allocation, the FG distributed a special ₦435 billion infrastructure and security intervention fund to state governments during the first half of 2026 alone to support state projects.

The vastly increased number and scale of infrastructural projects in all the states is clear evidence of VASTLY INCREASED allocation from Abuja, so go and sit down with this your fake calculation. The FG is PUMPING the states with money to build up their infrastructure.

Cyberterror:
For decades, Nigerians have been clamouring for true federalism that ultimately gives greater resources to the federating units to enable them carry out more development at the grassroots. Now President Tinubu has done that with his ingenuity of removing subsidy without constitutional conference or whatever redtape that his predecessors used to frustrate the process, yet some perennial losers are still crying. Atiku is a fraudster just like Peter Obi who when asked whether he would remove subsidy said "Yes and No"

Leaders are meant to be decisive and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is such a leader. Jagaban till 2031.

AMINDA:
Kindly explain why Tinubu has borrowed more money in 3 years than Buhari did in his entire 8-year tenure despite having removed subsidy. The argument then was that Nigeria was borrowing to subsidize fuel but subsidy is gone and Nigeria is still borrowing far more money than before. Where is the money? Where are the infrastructural projects?

AMINDA:
Kindly explain why Tinubu has borrowed more money in 3 years than Buhari did in his entire 8-year tenure despite having removed subsidy. The argument then was that Nigeria was borrowing to subsidize fuel but subsidy is gone and Nigeria is still borrowing far more money than before. Where is the money? Where are the infrastructural projects?

Napata77:
We are not in America, Mr Man.

We don't pay for everything we do in dollars, so take that nonsense away.

Many of these projects are being paid for in Naira to indigenous contractors.

ALSO, in addition to the standard monthly allocation, the FG distributed a special ₦435 billion infrastructure and security intervention fund to state governments during the first half of 2026 alone to support state projects.

The vastly increased number and scale of infrastructural projects in all the states is clear evidence of VASTLY INCREASED allocation from Abuja, so go and sit down with this your fake calculation. The FG is PUMPING the states with money to build up their infrastructure.

AMINDA:
Kindly explain why Tinubu has borrowed more money in 3 years than Buhari did in his entire 8-year tenure despite having removed subsidy. The argument then was that Nigeria was borrowing to subsidize fuel but subsidy is gone and Nigeria is still borrowing far more money than before. Where is the money? Where are the infrastructural projects?

Napata77:
The infrastructural projects are standing outside your bedroom door.

Don't move around the country and see what is happening, you hear?

NIGERIA MUST BORROW MONEY OR WE DON'T DEVELOP.

That $38 billion budget is not even CLOSE to being enough to develop a country of this size.

Look at America with a similar population (320 million). Their annual budget is $8 TRILLION!

AND THEY ARE STILL BORROWING TILL TOMORROW!

Today they owe over $40 TRILLION!!

Do we even owe up to $100 billion? I doubt it.

Nigeria has to borrow. In fact we're seriously under-borrowed.

If I was Tinubu I would borrow 3 times more, let heavens fall.

DeepSight:
Settle down.

You earn N10 monthly.

Cost of goods and services you need monthly is N10.

Okay?

Then something happens.

You start to earn N50 monthly.

But cost of goods and services you need is now N100.

Are you richer or poorer?

Mind you, you may be able to pay your domestics better and have even more domestics.

But overall, are you richer or poorer?

Think about this analogy not only for the states but for the common man.

Napata77:
But cost of goods and services have not increased by 1,000% nau.....this is pure exggeration.

Napata77:
The infrastructural projects are standing outside your bedroom door.

AMINDA:
“Tinubu told Nigerians subsidy was dead. Yet NNPC’s audited accounts reportedly contain approximately ₦17.5 trillion in energy-security costs and petroleum under-recoveries, including about ₦7.13 trillion classified as Energy Security and ₦8.67 trillion in under-recoveries. So what exactly did Tinubu remove? If subsidy is dead, why are under-recoveries alive?"

- Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

Napata77:
We are not in America, Mr Man.

We don't pay for everything we do in dollars, so take that nonsense away.

Many of these projects are being paid for in Naira to indigenous contractors.

ALSO, in addition to the standard monthly allocation, the FG distributed a special ₦435 billion infrastructure and security intervention fund to state governments during the first half of 2026 alone to support state projects.

The vastly increased number and scale of infrastructural projects in all the states is clear evidence of VASTLY INCREASED allocation from Abuja, so go and sit down with this your fake calculation. The FG is PUMPING the states with money to build up their infrastructure.

DeepSight:
Like the fraudulent coastal road?

Napata77:
That's to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal like you people were demanding.

The floating of the naira meant that fuel prices would have skyrocketed massively had this 'backdoor subsidy' not been done..

DeepSight:
Settle down.

You earn N10 monthly.

Cost of goods and services you need monthly is N10.

Okay?

Then something happens.

You start to earn N50 monthly.

But cost of goods and services you need is now N100.

Are you richer or poorer?

Mind you, you may be able to pay your domestics better and have even more domestics.

But overall, are you richer or poorer?

Think about this analogy not only for the states but for the common man.

Napata77:
Don't be ridiculous. That coastal highway will open up trillions of naira in business.

The real fraud was that 2nd Niger bridge if you ask me. Because till today, nobody has explained what exactly was wrong with the 1st Niger Bridge that they had to build a second one next to it.

Sheuns:
4.5bn under Buhari was $10,000,000

16bn under Tinubu is $12,307,693

That’s just a little over $2M increase.

AMINDA:
In other words, he claimed to have removed subsidy only to spend more on subsidies in 6 months than Buhari spent on subsidy in 8 years. What an Economic genius!

"Tinubu has given Nigerians the worst of both worlds: he removed the relief but retained the opaque costs. Nigerians got the pain; government kept the bill. You do not build a federation by impoverishing citizens so that Abuja can send bigger cheques to governors. That is robbing households to subsidise governments."

- Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

Napata77:
Don't be ridiculous. That coastal highway will open up trillions of naira in business.

The real fraud was that 2nd Niger bridge if you ask me. Because till today, nobody has explained what exactly was wrong with the 1st Niger Bridge that they had to build a second one next to it.

DeepSight:
Who is being ridiculous. When i say a project is fraudulent, the bold cannot be the rebuttal even if true.

It is fraudulent because -

1. It did not go through established procurement rules via the BPP
2. There was neither public nor competitive tender
3. It was awarded without NASS appropriation for the FG costs involved
4. It was awarded to an international criminal, Gilbert Chagoury, who has been convicted in the US and Switzerland
5. Gilbert Chagoury is a close personal cohort of the President
6. The president's son sits on Chagoury's boards

These cross many lines of breach of procedure, compromise of ethics and conflict of interest.
Do you understand now?

AMINDA:
Name one good or item that isn't affected by the price of dollar? Is it cement? Construction costs? Building materials? What?

Nigerians who opposed fuel subsidy in the past did so because they feared it would only put more monies in the hands of governors without any accountability. Tinubu simply came and confirmed their fears. He has the governors openly "endorsing" him but he wants ypu and I to hold them "akantable". Meanwhile, he could suspend Fubara and unilaterally freeze and unfreeze local government and state government accounts but only for the non-compliant governors that refuse to pledge support for his political ambition.

Kushites:
Hmmm.....but the 2nd Niger bridge was by Julius Berger, abi?

Do you now how corrupt that company is?