‘Stop Building Unnecessary Flyovers, Invest in Security Instead’ - Tinubu Tells Governors as State Police Plan Gains Momentum

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged state governors across the country to rethink spending priorities by channeling more resources into security and critical infrastructure rather than constructing flyovers in areas where they are not urgently needed.

The President made the call on Wednesday while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The delegation was led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

Speaking on the nation’s security challenges, Tinubu said the government was intensifying efforts to tackle rising insecurity, noting that some of the criminals terrorising communities are foreign nationals taking advantage of instability in neighbouring countries.

According to him, the security crises in Mali, Burkina Faso and the Niger Republic have worsened Nigeria’s security situation, making it necessary for all levels of government to strengthen collaboration and invest more in measures that enhance public safety.

The President disclosed that plans to establish state police were advancing and assured traditional leaders that the initiative would soon become a reality as part of broader efforts to improve internal security.

Tinubu also announced plans to strengthen the country’s forest guard system, describing it as a critical component of the strategy to combat banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities often linked to forests and remote areas.

He stressed that forest guards would be better equipped and empowered to work alongside conventional security agencies in securing vulnerable communities and denying criminals safe havens.

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Addressing concerns about how states are utilizing increased federal allocations, the President challenged governors to focus on projects that directly improve citizens’ welfare and support security operations.

Tinubu noted that state governments now have significantly more financial resources than in previous years and should deploy those funds to projects with greater impact on economic development and public safety.

He argued that rather than investing heavily in flyovers in locations with little traffic pressure, governors should prioritize road networks, access routes and other infrastructure that can improve connectivity, stimulate economic activities and enable security agencies to respond swiftly to threats.

The President further pointed out that many states are no longer borrowing to pay workers’ salaries, while pensioners are increasingly receiving their entitlements, creating room for governments to invest more strategically in development and security.

“You need to help us communicate to these governors,” Tinubu told the traditional rulers, emphasizing that resources should be directed toward projects that improve quality of life and provide security operatives with easier access to previously difficult-to-reach areas.

His remarks come amid growing calls for stronger security measures across the country as authorities grapple with banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and cross-border criminal activities affecting several regions.