At a time when Niger State is grappling with dilapidated public schools, underfunded healthcare facilities, and a worsening human development crisis, the decision of the state government to commit scarce public resources to the construction of seven flyovers in Minna, alongside multiple uncomplicated road projects across the state, raises serious questions about governance priorities, fiscal prudence, and moral responsibility.
Infrastructure development is important, but it must be purposeful, need-driven, and reflective of the most urgent needs of the people. Minna is not Lagos, Abuja, or Port Harcourt where traffic congestion has reached crisis proportions. The traffic situation in Minna does not justify the massive investment in seven flyovers, many of which experts argue could be replaced with less expensive traffic management solutions such as junction redesigns, traffic lights, and road markings. Instead, Niger State appears to be pursuing prestige projects designed more for political optics and legacy branding than for solving real problems. It’s more troubling that loans to the tune of #1 trillion are lavishly expended on these white elephants projects.
Even more troubling is the simultaneous rollout of multiple uncomplicated road projects across the state—projects that could have been phased, prioritized, or even deferred. In a state where primary healthcare centres lack basic drugs, functional laboratories, and qualified personnel, and where many public schools operate with leaking roofs, overcrowded classrooms, unpaid teachers, and outdated learning materials, this spending pattern borders on policy insensitivity.
Niger State continues to record poor health indicators, including high maternal and infant mortality rates. Many rural communities travel long distances to access basic medical care, only to encounter facilities without electricity, water, or essential equipment. Similarly, the education sector remains in distress, with thousands of out-of-school children, crumbling infrastructure, and a widening gap between public and private education outcomes. These are not abstract challenges; they directly affect productivity, security, and the future of the state.
The core issue is not opposition to development, but opposition to misaligned development. Flyovers do not treat malaria, reduce maternal deaths, or keep children in school. Asphalt and concrete cannot substitute for trained teachers, equipped hospitals, and functional primary healthcare systems. When a government prioritizes visually impressive projects over human capital investment, it signals a disconnect from the lived realities of its citizens.
In an era of shrinking federal allocations, rising debt, and economic uncertainty, governments must make hard choices. True leadership is demonstrated not by the height of flyovers but by the depth of impact on human welfare. Revitalizing healthcare and education would yield far greater long-term economic and social returns than redundant flyovers and scattered roadworks.
Niger State deserves a development agenda rooted in necessity, equity, and sustainability—not one driven by symbolism and short-term political calculations. The people deserve hospitals that heal and schools that educate, not monuments that merely decorate the skyline.
