On needless flyovers

In a rare presidential frank talk, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently asked state governors to stop building needless flyovers where vehicular traffic is relatively low; urging them to instead redirect their significantly enhanced federal allocations to more critical sectors that directly impact on the life of citizens. He noted that states were now receiving four to five times what they previously received monthly from the Federation Account and Allocation Committee (FAAC). These remarks were made by Mr President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, July 30, 2026 when he received a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja. The traditional rulers had gone to congratulate him on the successful rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area after 56 days in captivity. Directing his remarks at Ladoja and other members of the delegation, President Tinubu said, “Nobody is borrowing money to pay salaries now. Pensioners are receiving their pay. They should do more instead of building flyovers where there is no numeric traffic. “They should build roads and artery networks to really enhance the quality of life and the accessibility of the security agencies to penetrate insecure areas.” He appealed to the traditional rulers to help and  carry the message to the governors. The construction of flyovers by some governors in state capitals and other urban townships where such a capital-intensive infrastructure should be far from being a priority could only be a consequence of the failure of governance. The projects in some instances are used as conduit pipes for siphoning public funds. In recent years, the construction of flyovers became a matter of fashion among state chief executives as much as they also build them for political patronage rather than a genuine community need meant to provide solution for specific demographic challenges. This is even as schools, healthcare facilities, potable water supply, electricity, and roads infrastructure are in the worse state of dilapidation in some of the states that prioritise the building of flyovers. In view of what they practically stand for in many states in the country, flyovers are white elephant projects, which are most often left to become abandoned ventures that are never completed. Like the unnecessary flyovers initiated on ego-driven motives, the construction of large airports with little passenger traffic is another form of a white elephant project undertaken by state governors in Nigeria. This unfortunate misplacement of priorities further exposes the absence of manifestos in all political parties in the country. A political party manifesto outlines a party’s vision and state specific governance commitments and serves as the blueprint for governance and policy implementation once the party wins an election. During Nigeria’s Second Republic (1979–1983), the major political parties developed fairly distinct ideological and policy identities. The National Party of Nigeria (NPN), which controlled the federal government under President Shehu Shagari, was known for its emphasis on economic development and agriculture.  The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was particularly identified with free education, free or affordable healthcare, housing, employment creation and integrated rural development.  The Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), associated with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, placed considerable emphasis social justice, education and economic development. The Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP), led by Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, was associated with grassroots development, economic opportunity, national integration and a more decentralised approach to governance, while the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), led by Mallam Aminu Kano, stood out for its radical populist and egalitarian agenda. The PRP particularly advocated for social justice, mass education, rural developmen It is very unlikely for Nigerians to remember our current political parties with anything tangible. Leaders of these political parties should have a rethink. Besides helping political parties to set agenda, manifestos outline explicit policy goals that dictate the legislative priorities of a new government. Furthermore, ruling parties use manifestos to directly shape national budgets, fiscal priorities, and tax structures. The fact that Mr. President had to call upon state governors and direct them on what to do and what not to do shows the extent to which the ruling party in the country lacks a deliberate development and governance agenda. If it had any as a party ruling in 31 out of the 36 states of the federation, it would not be talking about what state governors should do for their people. Where a political party lacks manifesto, some of the consequences to be suffered include poor governance and the absence of a policy blueprint that would bring about nationa

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