A financial consultant, Tunji Adepeju, has criticised what he described as Nigeria’s excessive focus on the federal government.

Mr Adepeju urged state and local governments to take greater responsibility for economic and infrastructural development.

In an interview in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, Mr Adepeju said that many Nigerians often focus their criticisms on the federal government while ignoring the constitutional powers and growing financial resources available to sub-national governments.

According to him, state governments now have more room to act, especially in the power sector, following the signing of the Electricity Act in 2023, which decentralised electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

“In the past, power was largely on the exclusive legislative list, but now states can generate, supply, monitor and distribute electricity in their domains.

“So, the question is: what are state governments doing with these powers and the increased revenues coming to them since fuel subsidy removal?” he said.

The financial expert said that some states had begun to take advantage of the new legal framework.

He, however,  lamented that many others were still executing projects he described as less impactful than investments in electricity, agriculture and rural infrastructure.

Mr Adepeju also urged journalists and citizens to broaden their scrutiny beyond the federal government and pay more attention to how state and local governments deploy public resources.

“We should not always look up to Abuja for everything. States and local governments must also be held accountable for the welfare of the people,” he said.

On food inflation and agricultural productivity, Mr Adepeju said state and local governments had not done enough to support farmers, despite worsening food insecurity across the country.

He said many of the interventions announced by sub-national governments existed more in public communication than in practical implementation.

“Most of what they are doing in agriculture is on radio and television. But what concrete support is getting to the farmers?” he said.

Mr Adepeju acknowledged that ongoing road and infrastructure projects could stimulate economic activity by creating jobs for artisans, drivers, welders, bricklayers and other low-income earners.

He said that such projects, if properly implemented, could improve household welfare and reduce unemployment.

“Even road construction provides opportunities for many people. It engages artisans and others who have been jobless, and that can support their families,” he said.

The expert also raised concerns over poor infrastructure around strategic transport corridors in Oyo State, particularly the road linking the Moniya axis to the train station.

He said that the poor state of the road had created a negative impression for visitors arriving in Ibadan by rail, including tourists, academics and conference participants.

“People now travel more by train. But when they get to Ibadan, the roads from the train station to major parts of the city are terrible.

“If we want to promote tourism, conferences and business in Ibadan and Oyo State, then access roads should reflect that,” he said.

Mr Adepeju further criticised what he described as the prioritisation of ceremonial spending over essential development needs by some public officials.

He said such spending patterns undermined public confidence and slowed economic progress at the grassroots. 

(NAN)