Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to extend to the Federal Government the same advice he recently gave state governors on prioritising infrastructure development.
Obi said the President’s caution against building unnecessary flyovers was a welcome position, but argued that the Federal Government was also pursuing costly projects while many vital roads and public infrastructure across the country remained neglected.
In a statement posted on his X account on Saturday titled “Rehabilitate Existing Infrastructure Before Embarking on New Projects,” Obi reiterated his long-standing position that governments should focus on restoring existing infrastructure before initiating new projects that may end up abandoned.
According to him, Tinubu’s recent remarks to governors effectively echoed the same principle he had consistently advocated, despite facing criticism for it in the past.
Obi maintained that the President’s message should not be directed only at state governments, insisting that the Federal Government must also align its actions with the same policy.
He argued that several expensive projects currently being pursued by the Federal Government are unrealistic in light of Nigeria’s economic challenges, especially when major highways and other essential infrastructure are in poor condition.
The former Anambra State governor stressed that limited public resources should be invested in rehabilitating and completing existing infrastructure instead of embarking on prestige projects with little immediate impact on citizens.
He also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of roads connecting commercial hubs and agricultural communities, describing them as dangerous and harmful to economic growth.
Reflecting on his tenure as governor of Anambra State, Obi said his administration prioritised completing inherited projects before starting new ones, adding that governance should be viewed as a continuous process focused on delivering lasting value rather than political recognition.
