By Elizabeth Godwin
Former Kano State governorship candidate, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of disproportionately favouring Lagos State in the allocation of federal infrastructure projects, warning that the pattern threatens national unity and deepens regional inequality.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, Yakasai – popularly known as Dawisu – expressed concern over what he described as “trillions-naira investment concentration” in Lagos under Tinubu’s administration. Among the high-profile projects he cited were the N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the $651 million 7th Axial Road, the proposed $2 billion Lagos Light Rail, and the University of Lagos Power Project.
While acknowledging the strategic importance of some of these developments, Yakasai questioned the rationale behind concentrating such massive federal investment in one state. “Some justify the N712 billion rehabilitation of the Lagos International Airport because it’s profitable. I agree it’s important. But how many projects of that scale has Tinubu approved outside Lagos?” he asked.
Yakasai, a former media aide to ex-Kano governor Abdullahi Ganduje, argued that states like Kano and others in the North have been sidelined. He rejected the notion that Lagos is uniquely viable for investment, insisting that equitable development could unlock the potential of other regions.
Criticising Tinubu’s leadership style, Yakasai said it lacks national inclusivity. “I understand Emi Lokan – but sometimes it feels like Tinubu is President of Lagos, not Nigeria,” he wrote, suggesting even parts of the South West are being left out in favour of Lagos.
He warned that the continued marginalisation of other regions risks undermining national cohesion. “Any objective Lagosian with a conscience will know this favoritism is unprecedented… We will keep speaking – if only for the record,” he concluded.
