A woman from northern Nigeria has urged regional governors to focus on critical development areas such as education, industrialization, and agriculture instead of constructing flyovers and bridges.
In a viral video, she criticized the neglect of industries, saying, “Most industries in the North have packed out,” while no significant efforts are being made to revive them.
She expressed concern over the state of education, noting that many children lack access to quality schools and struggle with basic English skills, a situation she called “shameful.”
Commenting on the proliferation of flyovers, she said, “Kano people claim to have the highest number of flyovers, and now Adamawa has joined. But what are these bridges achieving for our future?”
The woman suggested that northern governors learn from Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, who has prioritized projects like solar energy and alternative power solutions. She argued that investments in renewable energy and industrial projects could boost the region’s economy and reduce dependence on federal allocations.
“We do not need more bridges again; we are tired of all these bridges,” she said. “You see bridges and flyovers everywhere. Everyone is building flyovers and bridges. That is not a sign of development.”
She highlighted the importance of factories and agro-processing plants. “We used to have gum factories in Zamfara and several other industries across the North, but now they are all closed. Instead of fixing this, all we see are more bridges being built.”
The woman questioned why state governments could not establish groundnut processing plants or similar facilities to support local industries. “Is it forbidden for state governments to own groundnut processing plants? Facilities where people can bring their groundnuts and process them? Instead, local people come with peanut oil. Did anyone curse us?”
Calling for a shift in priorities, she said, “It is embarrassing that we lack good schools, and our children cannot even speak proper English. Yet, our focus remains on building flyovers and bragging about the number of bridges. Kano will say we have the highest number of flyovers, and Adamawa has joined too. They did not curse Northern Nigeria, please.”
She also called for investments in agriculture, education, and public-private partnerships. “You can establish tractor rental facilities where farmers can borrow tractors for agricultural purposes. You can build quality schools. You can engage in public-private partnerships with northerners willing to invest in the region’s development.”
“Please, leave these bridges and flyovers alone and focus on what truly matters for the growth and prosperity of Northern Nigeria,” she added.
