Opinion
By Agbeze Ireke Kalu Onuma
The allocation of N400 billion in Nigeria’s 2025 national budget for light rail projects in Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, and Kano states is not merely an oversight—it is a glaring, deliberate act of exclusion that reinforces decades of systemic marginalization against the South East and South South regions. This decision, sanctioned by the National Assembly and tacitly endorsed by the executive, exemplifies the federal government’s reckless disregard for equity, justice, and national cohesion. It is a slap in the face to the very regions whose resources bankroll the Nigerian economy, and it raises urgent questions about the government’s commitment to resolving the structural inequalities that threaten the nation’s survival.
The 2025 budget allocates N150 billion to Kano, N100 billion each to Ogun and Kaduna, and N50 billion to Lagos for light rail projects. Additionally, Lagos receives N146.14 billion for the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail Phase 1, bringing its total rail allocation to N196.14 billion. Meanwhile, the South East and South South—regions that contribute over 80% of Nigeria’s oil revenue, the lifeblood of the national treasury—receive nothing.
This disparity is not accidental. It reflects a pattern of federal spending that prioritizes political expediency over developmental logic. Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, and Kano are either political strongholds of the ruling party or regions represented by influential lawmakers. The South East and South South, historically sidelined in federal projects, are once again relegated to the periphery.
Nigeria’s economy survives on oil extracted predominantly from the Niger Delta (South South) and, to a lesser extent, the South East. Despite this, these regions suffer catastrophic neglect in infrastructure investment. The Niger Delta remains a wasteland of environmental degradation, poverty, and militancy, while the South East grapples with crumbling roads, dilapidated seaports, and nonexistent rail networks.
The 2025 rail budget is a microcosm of this injustice. The federal government collects trillions in oil revenue from the South South and South East but channels infrastructure funds to regions with minimal revenue contributions. This is not just inequitable—it is economic sabotage. It perpetuates a colonial-style extraction model where resources are looted from the South to develop the North and Southwest, breeding resentment and instability.
The N400 billion rail allocation was added by lawmakers after President Tinubu’s initial proposal. Why were these four states singled out? What criteria justified their selection? Population density? Economic activity? Existing rail infrastructure? None of these arguments hold:
– Lagos already has ongoing rail projects (e.g., the Blue and Red Lines) and receives disproportionate federal attention.
– Kano and Kaduna are part of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano standard gauge rail, which has consumed billions in loans. Why duplicate efforts?
– The South East, home to densely populated cities like Onitsha, Aba, and Enugu, lacks a single functional rail line. Port Harcourt, the Niger Delta’s economic hub, remains disconnected from national rail networks.
Rail projects are constitutionally a federal responsibility, yet the government selectively intervenes in states based on political alignment. If Lagos, Kano, and others deserve federal rail grants, why not Abia, Rivers, or Akwa Ibom?
The N400 billion is ambiguously labeled as “support”—likely loans that indebted states will struggle to repay. Meanwhile, oil-producing states bear the ecological and social costs of extraction without commensurate investment.
Why does the Nigerian state treat the South East and South South with such contempt? The answers lie in a toxic mix of historical prejudice, political vendettas, and economic exploitation:
The South East has faced and continues to face institutionalized marginalization since the 1970s, viewed through the lens of post-war “reintegration” that never came.
On the other hand, the Niger Delta’s oil wealth has made it a target for control by successive regimes, while its people are denied basic amenities.
The South East and South South increasingly vote against the ruling party, making them expendable in a patronage-driven system.
This exclusion is not passive—it is active violence. By denying critical infrastructure to regions already battered by unemployment, insecurity, and environmental ruin, the government is sowing seeds of discord. The #EndSARS protests and Niger Delta militancy are precursors to the explosions that await if this marginalization continues.
Federal policies toward the South East and South South have been a litany of broken promises:
The East-West Road, a 361km artery linking the South South, remains unfinished after 20 years and N400 billion spent.
The Coastal Railway project, proposed in 2014 to connect Lagos to Calabar, has been shelved indefinitely.
The Second Niger Bridge, delayed for decades, was only completed after public outcry.
The Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line, launched with fanfare in 2021, has seen minimal progress.
In contrast, Northern and Southwestern projects are fast-tracked. The Lagos-Ibadan rail, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano line, and even the controversial Kano-Maradi line (prioritizing Niger Republic over Nigerian regions) enjoy relentless funding.
To avoid the implosion that has been simmering underneath, the N400 billion should be redistributed to include rail projects in the South East (e.g., Enugu-Onitsha-Port Harcourt line) and South South (e.g., Calabar-Uyo-Aba line).
A thorough Legislative review of the various aspects of the budgeting allocations must be embarked in, which will mandate proportional infrastructure investment based on revenue contributions. Implement the Petroleum Industry Act’s Host Communities Fund without further delays.
Publish detailed criteria for project selection. Involve regional stakeholders in the National Assembly’s appropriation process.
Cancel purported “loans” for rail projects and instead allocate grants to offset ecological debts owed to the Niger Delta.
Address historical grievances through truth and reconciliation initiatives. Restructure Nigeria’s federalism to empower regions economically.
Nigeria cannot survive as a nation where entire regions are treated as conquered territories. The 2025 rail budget is not just a developmental failure—it is an existential threat. By excluding the South East and South South, the government is telling their people, “You do not matter.” But these regions will not remain passive forever. The militancy, agitations, and mass disillusionment are warnings.
If Nigeria is to endure, it must confront its contradictions head-on. Equity is not a favor—it is a right. The South East and South South deserve more than crumbs from a table they built. Until this truth is acknowledged, Nigeria will remain a fractured nation, teetering on the brink of catastrophe.
©️ AI-KO
A.I
February 22nd 2025
Tags: Agbeze Ireke Kalu Onuma
