Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, accusing both leaders of prioritising the protection of advertising billboards over the safety of ordinary citizens in Kaduna. The Odinkalu Tinubu billboards issue underscores a troubling inversion of priorities as communities continue to face attacks from armed groups while government resources appear directed toward safeguarding commercial signage. Odinkalu Tinubu billboards controversy has ignited fresh debate about governance priorities in Nigeria’s northwest region. Odinkalu Tinubu billboards: Damning Assessment of Federal and State Priorities Speaking at a civil society forum in Abuja on Friday, Professor Odinkalu did not mince words. He described what he called a “grotesque inversion of governance priorities” where the presidency and state government have deployed security personnel to guard billboards while villages in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and Chikun local government areas remain exposed to bandit raids. The former NHRC boss, who served under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, argued that the protection of commercial assets cannot supersede the constitutional duty to protect life. “When the Federal Government sends soldiers to guard billboards in Kaduna metropolis while farmers in Kajuru cannot access their fields without fear of abduction, something is fundamentally broken,” Odinkalu stated. He cited reports indicating that private security firms contracted by outdoor advertising companies now operate with tacit backing from state agencies, creating a two-tier security architecture that favours commercial interests over vulnerable populations. The human rights advocate referenced a recent incident along the Kaduna-Abuja highway where billboard maintenance crews reportedly received armed escorts while commuters on the same route faced routine kidnapping threats. This disparity, he argued, reflects a broader pattern where the social contract between government and governed has been replaced by transactional arrangements with corporate entities. Kaduna’s Deepening Security Crisis Demands Urgent Response Kaduna State has recorded some of Nigeria’s most harrowing security incidents in recent years. The 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack, which left eight passengers dead and dozens abducted, shocked the nation. Since then, the security situation has deteriorated further, with the Kaduna State Government’s own security reports acknowledging over 3,000 deaths and 5,000 abductions between 2021 and 2025. Rural communities in the state’s southern and northern senatorial zones bear the brunt of this violence. Governor Uba Sani, who assumed office in May 2023, campaigned on a platform of restoring security. His administration launched the “Kaduna Secure” initiative, promising technology-driven surveillance and community policing. However, residents in affected areas say the programme has largely concentrated on urban centres, leaving vast rural expanses unprotected. The governor’s recent executive order on outdoor advertising regulation, which mandates enhanced security for billboard installations, has been interpreted by critics as evidence of misplaced priorities. Local government chairmen in Giwa, Igabi, and Birnin Gwari have repeatedly petitioned the state government for additional security deployments. Their appeals, according to documents seen by this publication, have gone largely unanswered while the Kaduna State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KADSAA) receives regular police and civil defence support for enforcement operations against unauthorised billboards. Presidential Response and the Politics of Perception The presidency has not issued a direct response to Odinkalu’s allegations. However, presidential aides have previously defended federal security deployments as “strategic asset protection” essential for economic stability. In a 2025 briefing, the National Security Adviser’s office argued that critical infrastructure — including advertising assets that generate revenue for local governments — requires protection to sustain municipal finances. This justification has drawn ridicule from civil society organisations. The Centre for Democracy and Development described it as “economic reasoning devoid of human empathy.” The organisation’s 2026 annual report on subnational governance noted that Kaduna’s internally generated revenue from outdoor advertising constitutes less than 2% of the state’s total revenue, questioning the proportionality of security resources allocated to the sector. President Tinubu’s administration, which came to power on a “Renewed Hope” manifesto promising to tackle insecurity head‑on, faces mounting scrutiny over its northwest strategy. The deployment of Operation Whirl Punch and Operation Safe Haven has yielded mixed results, with security analysts noting that kinetic operations alone cannot address the root causes of banditry — poverty, youth unemployment, and weak local governance. Civil Society Demands Accountability and Policy Reorientation Odinkalu’s intervention has galvanised a coalition of human rights groups, including the Nigerian Bar Association’s Kaduna branch, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the Kaduna Citizens’ Forum. In a joint statement released Saturday, the coalition demanded an immediate audit of security deployments across the state and a reallocation of resources to high‑risk communities. “We cannot accept a governance model where a billboard in Barnawa receives better protection than a primary school in Kufana,” the statement read. The coalition has threatened legal action if the federal and state governments fail to provide a satisfactory explanation within 30 days. They also called on the National Assembly to summon the Minister of Interior and the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security to explain the rationale behind current deployment patterns. Legal experts suggest the matter could test the enforceability of Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution, which declares the security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government. While these provisions are generally considered non‑justiciable, recent Supreme Court rulings have shown willingness to interpret them as guiding principles for executive action. Voices from Affected Communities Paint Grim Picture In interviews conducted across three local government areas, residents expressed frustration and fear. Mallam Ibrahim Yusuf, a farmer in Kasuwan Magani, described how his village has been attacked four times in eighteen months. “We see helicopters flying to protect billboards in town, but when we call for help, nobody comes,” he said. His 14‑year‑old son was among twelve youths abducted during a raid on their farmstead in March 2026. Hajiya Amina Bello, a trader in Kachia, recounted how her cooperative society contributed money to hire private vigilantes after repeated pleas to the local government chairman yielded no results. “We are protecting ourselves with our own money while our taxes pay for soldiers to guard signboards,” she said bitterly. These testimonies align with findings from the 2026 Nigeria Security Tracker, which documented a 40% increase in rural attacks in Kaduna State compared to the previous year. The tracker, maintained by a consortium of Nigerian and international researchers, noted that security force presence correlates strongly with urban commercial corridors rather than population density or threat levels. Historical Context: From Military Rule to Democratic Accountability The current controversy echoes longstanding tensions in Nigerian governance. During military regimes, protection of regime symbols and economic assets often took precedence over civilian welfare. The return to democracy in 1999 brought constitutional guarantees, but implementation gaps persist. Odinkalu, who has documented human rights abuses across multiple administrations, argues that the billboard controversy represents a democratic regression. “We fought for a government that serves the people, not one that serves billboards,” he remarked, drawing parallels to the 1990s when military governments prioritised protection of oil installations in the Niger Delta while local communities suffered environmental degradation and neglect. The difference, he noted, is that today’s leaders face electoral consequences — at least in theory. Political analysts suggest the controversy could influence the 2027 electoral calculus in Kaduna State. Governor Sani’s re‑election prospects may hinge on his ability to demonstrate tangible security improvements in rural areas. The All Progressives Congress (APC) dominates the state’s political landscape, but growing disaffection in the southern senatorial zone — traditionally a stronghold — could create openings for opposition parties. Economic Dimensions: Who Benefits from Billboard Protection? Investigation into the outdoor advertising industry in Kaduna reveals a network of politically connected firms dominating the sector. KADSAA records show that five companies control over 70% of legal billboard spaces in the state capital. Three of these firms have directors with known links to senior government officials, raising questions about conflict of interest in security allocation decisions. The Kaduna State House of Assembly’s Committee on Commerce and Industry conducted an oversight visit to KADSAA in June 2026. Their report, not yet made public, reportedly flagged irregularities in the award of advertising concessions and the use of state security assets for private commercial enforcement. Committee members have faced pressure to suppress the findings, according to legislative sources. Meanwhile, small businesses in Kaduna struggle with multiple taxation and harassment from signage enforcement officers. The Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) Kaduna chapter has petitioned the governor over what it describes as “predatory enforcement” targeting micro‑enterprises while large corporate advertisers enjoy protection. Path Forward: Rebalancing Security Priorities Security experts propose several immediate measures. Dr. Kabir Adamu, a security consultant based in Abuja, recommends a threat‑based deployment model where security resources are allocated according to risk assessments rather than asset value. “The current model protects property; a human security model protects people,” he explained. Community policing advocates point to the success of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in certain Kaduna communities where formal security presence is absent. They argue for formalisation and funding of such structures, with proper oversight to prevent abuse. The Kaduna State Government’s 2026 budget allocated ₦2.3 billion for community policing, but disbursement has been slow. At the federal level, the Police Reform Bill currently before the National Assembly offers an opportunity to redefine force deployment principles. Civil society groups are lobbying for amendments that would mandate civilian oversight of security resource allocation and require regular public reporting on deployment patterns. International Partners Watch Nigeria’s Human Security Commitments Nigeria’s development partners have expressed concern. The British High Commission in Abuja, in its 2026 annual human rights report, highlighted the disparity between urban asset protection and rural vulnerability in northwest Nigeria. The European Union’s delegation has linked future governance support to measurable improvements in human security indicators. These international dimensions add pressure on the Tinubu administration, which seeks to attract foreign investment and reposition Nigeria as a stable democratic partner. The billboard controversy, while seemingly local, feeds into broader narratives about governance quality and the value placed on Nigerian lives. FAQ What exactly did Professor Chidi Odinkalu accuse President Tinubu and Governor Sani of? Professor Odinkalu accused both leaders of prioritising the protection of advertising billboards in Kaduna metropolis over the safety of rural communities facing bandit attacks and kidnappings. He cited deployment of security personnel to guard billboards while villages in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and Chikun remain unprotected. How has the Kaduna State Government responded to these allegations? As of October 24, 2026, Governor Uba Sani’s office has not issued a formal response to Odinkalu’s specific allegations. The state government has previously defended its outdoor advertising regulation as necessary for revenue generation and urban planning. What legal options are available to communities affected by this security disparity? Civil society groups are exploring litigation based on the constitutional directive that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. While Chapter II provisions are traditionally non‑justiciable, recent court rulings suggest they may serve as interpretive guides for executive action. How significant is billboard advertising revenue to Kaduna State’s finances? According to the Centre for Democracy and Development’s 2026 report, outdoor advertising constitutes less than 2% of Kaduna State’s internally generated revenue, raising questions about the proportionality of security resources allocated to protect the sector. 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