ActionAid Nigeria has supported President Bola Tinubu’s call on Governors to stop constructing flyover bridges that are not needed in their states, but prioritize their projects to reflect the actual needs of the people.

ActionAid, a social justice non-governmental organisation,on Sunday said that Tinubu’s remarks “ present an opportunity for a broader national conversation about public finance, one that goes beyond flyovers to address how governments at all levels allocate scarce public resources”.

An official Statement signed by the Organization’s Country Director, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, said political leaders should be sensitive to the needs of the people and stop wasting national and state’s budgets on projects that will not ameliorate the economic hardship threatening human existence.

“This is not merely a question of reducing expenditure; it is about changing national priorities. Every unnecessary luxury purchase represents classrooms that were never built. Every unjustifiable trip represents medicines that never reached a primary healthcare centre.

“ Every unaccounted security vote represents communities that continue to live in fear without knowing how public resources intended for their protection were spent. Every prestige project that fails to address citizens’ needs represents another missed opportunity to reduce poverty and inequality. Public budgets are moral documents. They reveal whose interests governments choose to protect”, Mamedu said.

The Statement reads, “ ActionAid Nigeria has welcomed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent call on state governors to stop constructing unnecessary flyovers in locations without traffic congestion and to instead prioritise projects that directly improve citizens’ lives.

“ While infrastructure remains essential for development, ActionAid Nigeria notes that the real challenge is not flyovers themselves but a pattern of public expenditure that too often prioritises prestige over people”

Further, “ the organisation therefore called on the Federal Government and state governments to prioritise investments in quality public education, primary healthcare, water and sanitation, food security, climate resilience and social protection.

“ Reduce the cost of governance by curbing unnecessary official travel, luxury purchases and oversized government delegations.

“ Strengthen transparency and accountability in discretionary public expenditure, including security-related spending, while safeguarding legitimate national security interests.

“ Ensure that infrastructure projects are selected based on evidence, community priorities and measurable development outcomes rather than political visibility”.

Please follow and like us: