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FG to Governors: We Sent You N2.45trn for Roads and Security—Now Show Results

Politics Desk

ABUJA — The Federal Government has stripped state governors of any excuses regarding infrastructure deficits, revealing that it disbursed a staggering N2.45 trillion to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between March 2024 and August 2025.

In a move designed to enforce accountability at the sub-national level, the Presidency disclosed the massive financial injection on Tuesday, effectively challenging governors to explain how they have deployed these resources to secure their states and fix crumbling roads.

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, confirmed the figures, stating that the disbursement aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s determination to ensure that federal resources trigger development at the grassroots.

The “No Excuse” Stimulus

The Presidency emphasized that these funds are separate from the monthly FAAC allocations. They are specific “intervention funds” targeted at critical sectors.

  • The Purpose: The N2.45 trillion is strictly for repairing roads and bridges, upgrading dilapidated schools and health facilities, and equipping state security outfits to combat kidnapping and banditry.
  • The Expectation: “This support is already yielding tangible outcomes,” Bwala stated. “It is helping to fix roads and strengthen security operations in communities where Nigerians expect results the most.”

Adopting the “American Model”

Defending the massive transfer of wealth to the states, Bwala explained that the Tinubu administration is domesticating global best practices. He cited the United States and India, where the central government routinely provides direct grants to states (or regions) to handle heavy lifting in infrastructure and public safety. “We are moving away from a system where the center holds everything,” Bwala noted. “By empowering the states, we are pushing governance closer to the people.”

Wike’s FCT: A Case Study

The disclosure comes just as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike inspects a flurry of completed projects ahead of Abuja’s 50th Anniversary. The FCT’s share of this intervention fund has visibly fueled the accelerated construction of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) and the extensive rehabilitation of schools in Bwari and Gwagwalada.

  • The Evidence: Wike’s administration has used the federal backing to settle long-standing contractor debts, ensuring that project sites from Maitama II to Kuje remain active.

The Challenge to Governors

With the books now open, the spotlight turns to the 36 State Governors. Civil society organizations are already calling for a state-by-state breakdown of the N2.45 trillion. “If the Federal Government has released this much money specifically for infrastructure and security,” said Auwal Rafsanjani of CISLAC, “then governors cannot blame Abuja for the potholes in their capitals or the kidnappers in their forests.”

As the 2027 election cycle draws nearer, this disclosure may well become the yardstick by which the performance of second-term governors and the ambitions of first-termers are measured.