Tinubu to Governors: ‘Prioritise People-centred Projects Not Flyovers and White-elephant Projects’

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday urged state governors to channel increased federal allocations into roads and security-critical infrastructure instead of “flyovers and white-elephant projects” that offer little public value.

Tinubu gave the directive while receiving traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, at the Presidential Villa.

He said fiscal reforms have quadrupled revenues going to states, and that governors now have the resources to deliver projects that directly impact citizens and security.

“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,” Tinubu said.

“Instead of building flyovers where there is no significant traffic, build roads and arterial networks that improve access, enhance quality of life and enable security agencies to reach vulnerable communities quickly.”

The President argued that better road connectivity is key to defeating terrorism and banditry, as it allows security forces to respond faster to emergencies.

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*Security Reforms And Oriire Kidnap*

Speaking on insecurity, Tinubu said his administration has refused to pay ransom to abductors and is restructuring the military to improve response time.

“We have the geography of the forest, and in answer to it, we are moving from eight divisions to 12 to shorten response times and give our forces the teeth needed to defeat terrorism and banditry,” he said.

He disclosed that some of the criminals involved in the recent Oriire pupils’ kidnap in Oyo State are non-Nigerians, linking cross-border crime to instability in the Sahel.

Tinubu also reaffirmed plans to establish state police with safeguards against abuse, and to strengthen the Forest Guard to pursue criminals hiding in forests.

“Intelligence is important, and I urge people to be vigilant, know their neighbourhoods and report strangers,” he added.

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The Olubadan in his remarks thanked the President for the federal government’s response to the Oriire abduction, saying the refusal to pay ransom showed “we now have a government that knows what it is doing.”

Oba Ladoja urged sustained security operations in forests stretching from Oyo to Niger State and commended ongoing federal projects in Oyo worth over N2 trillion.

Tinubu assured the monarchs that traditional rulers would have a role to play in the proposed state police structure.