According to the Daily Post, August 3, 2025, former Kano State governorship aspirant and political commentator Salihu Tanko Yakasai, popularly known as Dawisu, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of focusing an excessive number of federal infrastructure projects in Lagos State while allegedly neglecting other regions of the country.
In a post shared on his verified Facebook page, Dawisu raised concerns over what he described as an “overwhelming concentration” of federal allocations in Lagos, warning that such lopsided development could undermine national unity and hinder inclusive progress.
Dawisu, who once served as the media aide to former Kano Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, highlighted several multi-billion naira federal projects in Lagos as examples. These include the N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the $651 million 7th Axial Road, a proposed $2 billion Lagos Light Rail network, and the University of Lagos Power Project. He also referenced the Renewed Hope City scheme, which he classified as part of a larger trend of massive federal investments being centred in Lagos.
He acknowledged that some people support the N712 billion upgrade of the Lagos International Airport due to its revenue potential but questioned the lack of comparable projects in other states. “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.
Drawing a contrast between the developments in Lagos and the state of federal infrastructure in Kano and other regions, Dawisu voiced frustration over the seeming absence of federal presence outside the commercial capital. He argued that the belief that only Lagos holds economic promise is a misguided one. “The idea that only Lagos is economically viable is flawed. If such investments were replicated elsewhere, other states could also flourish,” he stated.
Dawisu went on to fault President Tinubu’s governance pattern, cautioning against the use of presidential office to favour a particular region. “Once elected, a president must represent all Nigerians—not one state or one tribe,” he said.
Taking a jab at the President’s popular campaign phrase, Dawisu remarked, “I understand Emi Lokan but sometimes it feels like Tinubu is President of Lagos, not Nigeria.” He added that even some parts of the Southwest appear to be overlooked in favour of Lagos, noting that “Emi Lokan is starting to look more like Lagos Lokan.”
He wrapped up by calling on Nigerians with a sense of fairness to acknowledge the clear imbalance. “Any objective Lagosian with a conscience will know this favouritism is unprecedented. But if the agenda must agenda, go ahead. We will keep speaking if only for the record.
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