The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a scathing rebuke of the Federal Government’s recently released infrastructure report, “Infrastructure Equity for Every Region. Progress for Every Nigerian. The Renewed Hope Agenda in Action.” The party alleges the document is a “panicked propaganda attempt” to manage public criticism and is rife with manipulated evidence and padded projects.
In a press statement, the ADC stated it had taken a keen interest in the report and, upon closer scrutiny, found it to be “less a gesture of accountability and more a panicked propaganda attempt.” The party accuses the administration of “nepotistic and exclusionary tendencies,” arguing that the report highlights a government that “is run like an exclusive membership club.”
It said: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has observed with keen interest the Federal Government’s recent flurry of media engagements, particularly the hurried release of a glossy infrastructure document tagged ‘Infrastructure Equity for Every Region. Progress for Every Nigerian. The Renewed Hope Agenda in Action.’
“Ordinarily, we would have commended such an effort at transparency. However, the context and content of the report suggest that this was less a gesture of accountability and more a panicked propaganda attempt at damage control in the face of mounting criticism about the government’s nepotistic and exclusionary tendencies.
“It should be noted that this is the first time any government in Nigeria would be so hard-pressed to prove that it has actually given all parts of the country a sense of belonging. But the reason is clear: this is the most divisive government we have ever had, where government business is run like an exclusive membership club.”
The ADC’s most significant accusations centre on the alleged manipulation of project listings. The party specifically claims that in the section dedicated to North-Western Nigeria, at least four of the 12 listed projects do not belong to the region. The statement points to the Damaturu-Maiduguri road, which is in the North-East, and the Lokoja-Okene dualisation project in the North-Central zone as examples of projects mislabeled as North-Western initiatives.
“Take the Damaturu–Maiduguri road, for instance. This 110km road was listed under the North-West. Yet, Damaturu is the capital of Yobe State, and Maiduguri is the capital of Borno State — both in the North-East. Similarly, the Bama and Dikwa roads, also in Borno State, were mysteriously reclassified as North-Western projects.
“Then there is the Lokoja–Okene dualisation project. Lokoja is the capital of Kogi State, which, along with Okene, falls squarely within the North-Central zone. Yet, the government’s report would have us believe it is a North-Western initiative. The “Benue–9th Mile road is another case in point. This was mislabeled under the North-West, despite Benue being in the North-Central.
“To make matters worse, some projects were listed twice — once under their actual regions and again under the North-West. We know that budgets have allegedly been padded by this administration, but this is the first time we have seen infographics padded with such brazen creativity,” the ADC said.
The opposition party further claims that some projects were listed twice, once under their actual regions and again under the North-West, a move it describes as “brazen creativity.” The ADC also alleged that the government has repackaged and presented projects initiated by the previous Buhari administration as “fresh achievements.”
The ADC’s statement concludes by asserting that the infrastructure report, rather than exonerating the government, actually “showcases the cronyism, sloppiness, and lack of equitable distribution of projects and spending” under the current administration. The government has yet to issue a formal response to the ADC’s allegations.