Kaduna, Nigeria – Senator Shehu Lawal has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as a misplaced priority in infrastructure development, accusing the government of abandoning the critical Abuja-Kaduna highway in favor of an airport project that already exists.
Senator Lawal, a former Kaduna Central lawmaker, expressed his concerns in response to recent remarks by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, who claimed that improved security has made it safe for top officials, including ministers, to now travel by road from Abuja to Kaduna.
“You drove on the Abuja-Kaduna highway to make a political statement, but your government still abandoned the road and chose instead to start constructing a new airport in Kaduna, even though there’s already one,” Lawal stated via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The Abuja-Kaduna expressway has long been plagued by insecurity, including kidnappings and armed banditry, making it one of the most dangerous routes in Nigeria. While the NSA claimed the recent killing of key terrorist leaders had restored safety, Senator Lawal believes that investment in actual road infrastructure is more critical than optics or symbolic gestures.
The Tinubu administration recently commenced construction of a second airport in Kaduna, a move that has sparked mixed reactions from stakeholders who argue that funds could have been better utilized to fix deteriorating roads or bolster other essential services.
“If the road is truly safe, then the priority should be to fix it properly — not sidestep it with an expensive project that serves the elite,” Lawal added.
As the debate continues, public scrutiny grows over how federal infrastructure spending is being allocated, especially in regions still grappling with insecurity and poor transportation networks.
