Amid rising political rhetoric and claims of regional marginalisation, particularly from Northern Nigeria, a deep dive into verified federal fiscal data and infrastructure investments reveals a more nuanced picture — one that challenges the dominant narrative and raises important questions about equity, contribution, and fairness in national development.
🇳🇬 VAT Reality: Who Really Pays the Bills?
According to the latest revenue statistics released by the newly rebranded Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) — formerly known as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) — Lagos State alone contributes approximately 50% of Nigeria’s total Value Added Tax (VAT). This is despite housing just under 8% of the country’s population.
Zoom out a little further and the numbers become even more striking:
The entire Southwest region contributes nearly 65% of Nigeria’s total VAT revenue.
Oyo State alone outperforms all five Southeast states combined, contributing almost three times more VAT revenue.
Yet, when these funds are shared nationally, the Southwest only receives about 25% of what it contributes, while the remainder is distributed to other regions, predominantly in the North and parts of the East.
Despite this imbalance, there has been little to no public outcry from any notable Yoruba leaders, politicians, or civil society groups about being “shortchanged” or “marginalised.” Compare that with frequent and loud allegations of unfair treatment from regions that contribute significantly less to the national purse — and a dissonance begins to emerge.
🛣️ Infrastructure Spending: The Real Beneficiaries
Critics of President Tinubu have accused him of favouring his home region, the Southwest. But a closer examination of Nigeria’s most expensive infrastructure projects tells a different story:
🔨 Top Ongoing Road Projects in Nigeria:
1. Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway (750 km) – ₦15 trillion
Traverses difficult Niger Delta terrain: mangroves, swamps, and marshland.
2. Illela–Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway (1068 km) – ₦13 trillion
Mostly smooth, dryland terrain. Despite the length, it's only ₦2 trillion cheaper than the coastal highway.
3. Trans-Saharan Highway (465 km) – $750 million
Key regional trade route to North Africa.
4. Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road (439 km) – $1.33 billion
Largely within the North-Central and North-East geopolitical zones.
As the numbers show, three out of the four most capital-intensive road projects are located in Northern Nigeria.
🚆 Rail Revolution: Northern Lines Dominate
When it comes to rail, the concentration of spending in the North is even more apparent:
Kano–Maradi Railway (284 km) – $1.96 billion
Lagos–Kano Standard Gauge Railway (1343 km) – $2.5 billion
The Kaduna–Kano segment alone will cost $1.2 billion.
Compare this to ongoing or proposed rail projects in the South, and the contrast is evident. The bulk of capital investment in rail infrastructure under Tinubu's administration is firmly rooted in Northern Nigeria.
📈 GDP Growth & Fiscal Discipline Under Tinubu
In just two years, Nigeria’s GDP surged from ₦269.29 trillion to ₦372.8 trillion — a staggering $67 billion increase. According to multiple economic observers, this growth is largely attributed to President Tinubu’s strategic fiscal policies, as well as his background as a First-Class (cum laude) accountant, which has helped reposition Nigeria’s economy to attract local and foreign investments.
Tinubu has focused less on politics and more on nationwide development — irrespective of ethnic or regional affiliations.
💡 Time to Rethink Revenue Politics
If we’re truly concerned about equity in governance, then we must be willing to have honest conversations about both revenue sharing and revenue generation.
It is misleading — and perhaps unfair — to demand equal benefits when contributions to the national treasury are unequal.
It’s also disingenuous to overlook the massive infrastructure investments going to the North, only to accuse the President of nepotism or regional bias.
🛑 Let’s Build, Not Distract
Rather than rocking the boat with unfounded allegations, Nigeria needs to support any administration — Tinubu’s or otherwise — that focuses on results over rhetoric.
Leadership should be judged on performance, fairness, and the ability to manage national resources for collective prosperity, not regional sentiments.
📢 What’s your take? Do you think the North is truly shortchanged, or is the truth being overlooked? Let’s talk in the comments.
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