***urges them to channel increased revenues into security-critical infrastructure

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday urged state governors to prioritise investments in roads and other critical infrastructure over what he described as white elephant projects, arguing that improved connectivity is essential to tackling insecurity, unlocking economic opportunities and improving the quality of life of Nigerians.

The President said governors now have significantly more resources at their disposal following fiscal reforms by his administration and should deploy the funds to projects that deliver tangible benefits to citizens rather than prestige developments with limited public value.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu said expanding road networks into underserved communities would not only stimulate economic activity but also improve access for security agencies responding to emergencies.

According to him, investments in strategic infrastructure have become indispensable as the country intensifies efforts to defeat terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.

“The money going to the states today is four to five times what they used to receive. Nobody is borrowing to pay salaries anymore, and pensioners are receiving their entitlements,” the President said.

He urged governors to make prudent use of the increased allocations by focusing on projects that directly impact the lives of the people.

“Instead of building flyovers where there is no significant traffic, build roads and arterial networks that improve access, enhance the quality of life and enable security agencies to reach vulnerable communities quickly,” Tinubu said.

He stressed that infrastructure planning should be driven by the needs of the people and national security priorities, noting that accessible road networks are critical for rapid deployment of security personnel and the delivery of essential services.

The President’s remarks came as he outlined his administration’s broader security reforms, including plans to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, establish state police with constitutional safeguards against abuse, and strengthen the Forest Guard to combat criminal elements operating in forests across the country.

Tinubu maintained that infrastructure and security are closely linked, insisting that investments in roads and rural connectivity remain indispensable to sustaining peace, driving economic growth and extending the reach of government services to every part of the country.