Beyond Abuja: Why States Must Stop Hiding Behind Over-Centralisation
Jerry Adesewo
I stumbled on a WhatsApp post by Ayo Akinfe that has since gone viral, where he laid out ten bold ideas that state governments in Nigeria could immediately pursue without waiting for Abuja’s blessing. And it struck a chord in me. His argument is simple: our governors hide behind the excuse of “over-centralisation” instead of demonstrating vision and initiative. And I must confess that I completely agree with him.
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For far too long, we have developed a national obsession with Aso Rock as the answer to every developmental challenge. Yet, as Akinfe rightly pointed out, there is no law preventing states from courting investors or initiating transformative projects within their jurisdictions. Successive administration in Lagos state has shown what is possible with Eko Atlantic City, the Lekki corridor, and the light rail project among others. Why should Kogi, Taraba, Niger, Rivers, Ekiti, or Zamfara not aspire to the same?
Take, for instance, the idea of a 10,000MW hydro-electric power plant at Idah in Kogi State. With the River Niger flowing majestically through its territory, Kogi has what it takes to become Nigeria’s energy hub. Imagine the jobs, the industries, and the ripple effect across the North-Central region. Yet, year after year, the state depends on federal allocation and political patronage instead of leveraging its natural advantage.
Akinfe’s proposal for a Niagara Falls-style tourist destination at the Niger-Benue confluence in Lokoja is equally compelling. Tourism is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, but we in Nigeria treat it as an afterthought. If Lokoja were anywhere else in the world, that confluence would already be a global attraction, pulling in millions of dollars annually.
Look at Taraba’s Gembu, where he suggests opening the world’s largest nature reserve. Anyone who has been to the Mambilla Plateau knows it is a paradise waiting to be marketed. Eco-tourism there could rival what Kenya or Tanzania has built around wildlife, but Taraba lacks the political will to think beyond monthly federal allocation.
The same can be said for Niger State’s Mokwa, where a modern cattle ranch could revolutionize animal husbandry, end the incessant farmer-herder clashes, and position Nigeria as a major exporter of beef and dairy. Instead, Niger remains trapped in subsistence models that fuel insecurity and waste potential.
From Akwa Ibom’s deep seaport in Ikot Abasi, to Ondo’s cocoa railway link, Rivers’ shipyard in Degema, and Kwara’s sugar refinery at Jebba, the ideas flow naturally because the resources already exist. What is missing is bold leadership. Akinfe’s challenge is clear: governors must stop using Abuja as a crutch.
And perhaps the most visionary of all is his suggestion that Zamfara could host the world’s largest solar farm in Kaura Namoda. In a state plagued by insecurity and economic marginalization, renewable energy could be both a development lifeline and a symbol of hope.
This is not to say that centralisation has no impact. Our federal structure is indeed overbearing, and the control of resources by the centre often undermines state-level initiative. But as Lagos has shown, there is room for states to innovate, negotiate, and attract investors if they are serious. The truth is, many governors simply lack the imagination, or the courage, to dream big.
I find myself asking: is it fear of failure, or is it the comfort of blame-shifting that keeps our governors idle? Because at the heart of Akinfe’s argument is accountability. If states took ownership of their destinies, like some are already doing, we would quickly see which governors are genuine leaders and which are mere seat-warmers.
Nigeria is too vast and too diverse to be run from Abuja alone. Real progress will come when Lokoja, Makurdi, Uyo, Sokoto, and Yenagoa stop looking to Aso Rock for every solution and instead harness their own unique strengths. As citizens, we too must demand this shift in mindset.
Akinfe’s message is a wake-up call. We cannot keep recycling excuses while our peers around the world transform deserts into tech cities and rivers into global tourist magnets. The resources are here, the opportunities are real, and the only thing missing is visionary leadership at the state level.
Until our governors rise to that challenge, Nigeria will continue to crawl while others sprint.