President Bola Tinubu has urged state governors to prioritize investments in critical infrastructure over white elephant projects, emphasizing the need to tackle escalating insecurity in the country. In a meeting with traditional rulers from Oyo State at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on July 30, 2026, Tinubu stressed that improved connectivity is crucial to unlocking economic opportunities and improving the quality of life of citizens. He noted that the federal government's fiscal reform has increased allocation to states by more than four times, providing governors with more resources to deploy to critical projects.
Tinubu's call highlights the misplacement of priorities in state and local council governance, which has contributed to the country's insecurity. The President's directive indicates that there is no common vision among leaders at the federal, state, and local government levels on how to tackle insecurity. With the country facing fierce attacks by terrorists, kidnappers, and other hardened criminals, Tinubu's advice emphasizes the need for a strategic approach to addressing the root causes of insecurity. The President's call is a welcome development, as it underscores the importance of responsible leadership in addressing the country's challenges.
The presence of vast ungoverned spaces in many states, especially in the northern part of the country, has been identified as a major factor aiding the free operation of terrorists and other criminal elements. These ungoverned spaces lack effective state control, law enforcement, or basic public services, creating an environment that fosters insecurity. The Sambisa forest in the Northeast region, for example, provides a protected base for Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other terrorist gangs to stockpile weapons and plan large-scale offenses. Similarly, dense forests in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina, as well as unmonitored inter-state boundaries and rugged terrains, ease the movement of captives and act as logistical grounds for the booming ransom-abduction industry.
The porous borders facilitate the influx of small arms, light weapons, and foreign mercenaries, allowing insurgent networks to easily circle around and across neighboring countries like Chad, Cameroon, and Niger Republic. The ungoverned spaces also make it easy for criminal groups to supplant weak state presence by levying illegal taxes and coercing local compliance from neglected rural populations. This has led to some local governments in the northern part of the country being under the control of terrorist groups. Furthermore, the invitation of illegal miners and people who perpetrate environmental theft, such as oil bunkering in the Niger Delta and illegal mining of gold and other solid minerals in some states, has become a major concern.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government, without specifying any particular level of government. However, the task of ensuring safety and improving welfare has been left to the central government, with governors often citing a lack of control over the police and other security formations in their domains. With increased allocation, governors should be able to take measures that will boost the safety of life and property in their states. Nevertheless, what Nigerians have seen so far is wastage, corruption, financial recklessness, and insensitivity to the plight of citizens by many governors.
The governors should be strategic in their deployment of funds for projects, prioritizing the safety of life and reducing the cost of governance. They should stop investing in white elephant projects and use the funds to penetrate the ungoverned spaces and register government's presence in all nooks and crannies of their domains. This will help to stop the stealing of state mineral resources and provide a hiding place for criminal elements. As chief security officers of their respective states, governors must assume responsibility for the security of life and property, working to make a visible impact on citizens.
As the country continues to grapple with insecurity, the need for a collaborative approach between the federal government, state governments, and local councils has become imperative. The increase in allocation to states provides an opportunity for governors to demonstrate their commitment to the safety and welfare of their citizens. With the introduction of state police, the agency should be well-equipped to effectively protect the people, and governors should work to ensure that their states are secure and develop sustainably.
Key points
- President Tinubu urges governors to prioritize critical infrastructure over white elephant projects to tackle insecurity and promote development.
- The presence of vast ungoverned spaces in many states has been identified as a major factor aiding the free operation of terrorists and other criminal elements.
- Governors should be strategic in their deployment of funds, prioritizing the safety of life and reducing the cost of governance.
