Before Pointing at Governors, Abuja Must Lead – THISDAYLIVE

President Bola Tinubu’s challenge to governors to deploy rising revenues to projects that directly affect ordinary Nigerians is timely. However, the federal government must demonstrate the same discipline by prioritising existing roads, electricity, security and other essential infrastructure, writes Festus Akanbi

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resident Bola Tinubu’s admonition to state governors to channel their rising revenues into projects that directly improve citizens’ living conditions deserves serious attention. At a time of widespread hardship, public expenditure should be determined by necessity, economic value and social impact rather than political prestige.

Receiving a delegation of Oyo State traditional rulers at the Presidential Villa recently, Tinubu argued that governors had no justification for poor performance because their allocations had increased considerably. He advised them to build functional road networks that would stimulate economic activity and enable security agencies to reach vulnerable communities, rather than constructing flyovers where traffic volumes did not warrant them.

The president’s argument is difficult to fault. Across Nigeria, flyovers, elaborate government houses, ornamental city gates and other grand structures have become convenient political trophies. Their visibility makes them attractive to governors seeking monuments that can be advertised as evidence of performance. Yet such projects frequently coexist with dilapidated schools, understaffed hospitals, impassable rural roads and communities without potable water.

With Federation Account allocations reaching unprecedented levels, state governments must reconsider their priorities. In August 2026, the Federation Account Allocation Committee approved the distribution of N3.007 trillion among the federal, state and local…