The government of President Bola Tinubu has been caught posting false statistics regarding infrastructural projects across Nigeria, leading to significant public outrage and the subsequent deletion of the controversial post on Twitter.
The disputed statistics highlighted supposed investments totaling over 3.9 trillion Naira in Lagos state, with claims of widespread infrastructural development in various regions. However, Nigerians quickly scrutinized the data, identifying multiple inaccuracies and the exclusion of key areas such as Lagos in the Southwest.
Nigerians accused the government of peddling misinformation and manipulating data to boost its image ahead of upcoming elections. Several of the listed projects reportedly lacked verifiable progress or official records, raising concerns over transparency and the true extent of infrastructural development under the Tinubu administration.
Misclassified and Duplicated Projects
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) further intensified scrutiny by identifying regional misclassifications in the report. For instance:
The Damaturu–Maiduguri and Bama–Dikwa roads located in Yobe and Borno States (North-East) were falsely presented as North-West projects.
Projects like the Lokoja–Okene dualisation (Kogi State) and the Benue–9th Mile road (Benue State), situated in North-Central Nigeria, were also miscategorized under the North-West.
Some infrastructure projects appeared duplicated, being listed in their correct locations and again under the North-West region suggesting deliberate data inflation.
The ADC accused the government of using these manipulations to falsely portray the North-West as the primary beneficiary of federal infrastructure, while sidelining other regions and masking underlying nepotism.
Government Denies Allegations
In response to the uproar, Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, defended the administration, stating that the statistics were “misunderstood” and reaffirming the government’s commitment to balanced national development. He rejected the accusations of data manipulation, asserting that the Tinubu administration had made efforts to ensure fairness across all zones.
Public Trust and Electoral Pressure
This incident comes at a politically sensitive time as the administration faces increasing calls for transparency and equitable governance. Social media played a key role in amplifying public skepticism, with users dissecting the report in real-time and uncovering inconsistencies.
As Nigeria approaches another election cycle, citizens are demanding greater accountability. The controversy surrounding the infrastructure statistics serves as a stark reminder that public trust hinges on truth, and that modern-day governance cannot escape digital-era scrutiny.
