From Uduma Kalu
*ABA —* Two numbers tell a story.
Budget Office of the Federation, September 1, 2025: Federal Executive Council approvals since Tinubu took office — ₦10.92 trillion.
- North-West: ₦5.97 trillion
- South-South: ₦2.41 trillion
- North-Central: ₦1.13 trillion
- Lagos (exclusive): ₦1.2 trillion
- South-West (excluding Lagos): ₦604 billion
- *South-East: ₦407 billion — LAST*
- North-East: ₦400 billion
South-West combined: ₦1.804 trillion. South-East: ₦407 billion. 4.4 times.
And in Lagos where South-East traders live, another set of numbers: 17 buildings in Alaba demolished June 17, 2023. Four markets sealed Sep-Oct 2023. About 30 streets renamed 2024-2025.
*SECTION 1: THE PROJECTS — WHAT SW GOT VS WHAT SE GOT*
*South-West — Flagship:*
1. *Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway — 750km, ₦15 trillion* — 47.47km Section 1 awarded to Hitech at ₦1.067 trillion. Flagged off March 2024. Renamed after Tinubu July 2025. Minister David Umahi says Tinubu conceived it 27 years ago as Lagos governor.
2. *Lekki Deep Seaport — $1.5bn, 16.5m draft, 90ha, 40.6% cargo*
3. *Ogun Gateway Deep Sea Port — $7bn+ MoU Sep 24, 2026 Paris with DP World, witnessed by Tinubu — 4km berth, 18m draft, 10,000ha SEZ, 50,000 jobs, 28km coastal highway linkage*
4. *Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin ₦146bn, Lagos-Ibadan 8.5km ₦33bn, Lagos-Sagamu 12km, Carter/Third Mainland/Eko Bridges ₦120bn rehab*
*South-East — Leftovers:*
1. *Trans-Sahara Highway 465km — only 118km in Ebonyi ongoing*
2. *Benue-9th Mile Road 250km $958m — link, not exclusive SE road*
3. *Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge rehab — 1960s line*
4. *No deep seaport, no metro, no bridge, no $7bn MoU.* Ibom Deep Seaport is South-South. Azumini (Abia), Ose-Akwa (Anambra), Oguta (Imo) proposals — no gazette.
Item South-West South-East
FEC approvals ₦1.8tn + ₦15tn corridor ₦407bn
Deep seaports 3 (Lekki operational, Ogun $7bn, Badagry proposed) | 0
Metro Lagos Blue/Red + Ogun metro None
*SECTION 2: THE LAGOS TREATMENT — FROM 2023 ELECTION*
*Feb 25, 2023:* Peter Obi wins Lagos.
*March 16, 2023:* MC Oluomo video: "Iya Chukwudi, if you don't vote for us, stay at home." Later says joke.
*March 18, 2023:* Governorship. US State Dept 2023 Human Rights Report:
> "APC supporters reportedly intimidated and suppressed voters in Igbo-dominated areas... Viral videos showed APC supporters in Ojo threatening to attack ethnic Igbo voters... In Eti-Osa attacked journalists, shut down voting, prevented non-Yoruba voters... destroyed property and blocked voters in Amuwo-Odofin."
EU Observer Mission: Lagos among worst for thuggery.
*June 17-18, 2023:* Alaba International Market — 17 buildings demolished by LASBCA. Official: distressed since 2016. Traders: No evacuation, paid ₦70k allocation June 15, demolished June 17, billions lost.
*Sep-Oct 2023:* Ladipo, Oyingbo, Mile 12, Owode Onirin sealed by LAWMA for waste. Oct 22: ASPAMDA, BBA Trade Fair sealed. All Igbo-dominated. Reopened after 3 weeks fine.
*Late 2023-2024:* Trade Fair Complex plazas demolished. Lagos says illegal on waterways. Traders: Federal land, Lagos no jurisdiction.
*2024-2025:* Street renaming — Ajeromi-Ifelodun 24 streets, Bariga Charly Boy Bus Stop → Olamide Badoo Bus Stop.
*2025:* NURTW Chairman Sego: "What happened in 2023 will be child's play in 2027 if you don't vote APC."
*SECTION 3: ALL IS FAIR IN POLITICS?*
In London Dec 6, 2022, Tinubu told supporters: "Political power is not going to be served in a restaurant... It's not served a la carte. At all costs, fight for it, grab it, snatch it and run with it."
Igbo in Lagos say they saw grab, snatch and run in March 2023 and in demolitions after.
Lagos Govt defence: Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso — "Owners locked gates against officials and beat them up, police rescued officials. Demolitions for safety, not tribe. Alaba Rago (Hausa) also demolished." Sanwo-Olu met Ohanaeze, set up committee.
No compensation paid as of Sep 2026.
*SECTION 4: WILL 2027 BE FAIR?*
Question for next election: If South-East contributes 60% of import trade but gets 3.7% of projects, and its traders in Lagos who pay highest Customs duties get demolitions after voting, will 2027 be different?
Will BVAS work in Ojo and Amuwo-Odofin? Will police arrest thugs before, not invite after joke? Will market closures stop?
Importer quote: "Tinubu signed $7bn port for Ogun in Paris. Give us same gazette for Azumini. We will bring DP World ourselves. If all is fair in politics, let trade be fair also."
*SOURCES BOX (FOR EDITOR):*
1. Budget breakdown Tanimu Yakubu Sep 1 2025 — The Nation/PM News
2. Coastal Highway 750km ₦15tn — Umahi briefing, Hitech ₦1.067tn Section 1
3. Ogun Gateway $7bn Paris MoU Sep 24 2026 — Kayode Akinmade statement
4. Tinubu quote "grab it, snatch it and run" — London Dec 6 2022 — BBC/Channels
5. MC Oluomo "Iya Chukwudi" video March 16 2023
6. US State Dept 2023 Human Rights Report — April 2024 — Lagos voter suppression Ojo/Eti-Osa/Amuwo-Odofin
7. EU EOM June 2023
8. Alaba demolition June 17-18 2023 — LASBCA Gbolahan Oki; The Sun Nigeria trader interviews
9. LAWMA closures Sep-Oct 2023 — LAWMA releases; TheNiche "strike against waste or Peter Obi supporters?"
10. Trade Fair demolitions — Lagos Physical Planning; federal ownership Federal Ministry of Trade; Ohanaeze ₦23tn claim Vanguard Aug 2024
11. Street renaming — Bariga LCDA July 2025; Ajeromi-Ifelodun notice
12. Sego threat 2025 — Lagos Metro
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