Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has described the monumental completion of key infrastructural projects in Abuja by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration as record-breaking, unparalleled, and unmatchable.
Minister Wike stated this in Abuja while commissioning the newly provided Engineering Infrastructure in Wuye District, describing the feat as a major achievement under the Renewed Hope Agenda and a testament to a leadership that is committed and willing to change the lives of the people.
According to the FCT Minister, the commissioning ceremony was the 20th event in the current series of project flag-offs.
He challenged any previous administrations to show a record of project delivery that surpasses the current one under President Tinubu’s leadership.
“To the glory of God, today is the 20th day of our flag-off and commissioning programme. I want to challenge anybody who says in the history of the FCT that any administration has beaten this record of the Renewed Hope Agenda. If there is any administration since the inception of the FCT that has beaten this record of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, let him speak up now or forever remain silent,” the Minister noted.
Minister Wike explained that the current phase of the Wuye District Infrastructure was originally awarded in 2009 but remained abandoned for 14 years due to non-payment to the contractor, until President Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
He said that upon assuming office, the President moved to change the narrative by ensuring the completion of the entire infrastructure, including sectoral, arterial, and internal roads, as well as the provision of basic amenities like water and light, adding that the President also completed the Wuye Interchange project in his first year in office to enhance traffic flow.
“From May 2023, when Mr. President came, what he did in one year in office was to first of all commission the Wuye Interchange that posed serious challenges to the free flow of traffic for the entire area. Now, from 2024 to 2025, the entire District has been completed”, Wike stated.
The FCT Minister affirmed that the provision of infrastructure in Wuye District was already encouraging the development of the real estate sector in the area.
He extended appreciation to the contractor, Arab Contractors, for not abandoning the project despite outstanding payments and pledged the FCT Administration’s continued collaboration with the company.
Minister Wike, while emphasizing that infrastructure development was not only concentrated in the Abuja city centre, pointed to massive ongoing works in the satellite towns, particularly the Airport Road to Kuje (8-lanes) and the dualization of Kuje/Gwagwalada road, confirming that President Tinubu has delivered what previous administrations, even those from his own party, the PDP, had failed to execute.
“I have seen the elated Area Council Chairman of Kuje… We are dualizing Kuje to Gwagwalada, so you should be happy. Even though you are in my party, the road was awarded under my party, but no payment was made. Now Tinubu has come, he has dualized the airport road to Kuje road and he is dualizing Kuje to Gwagwalada.
“What is important is who has listened and solved the problems of my people. It’s not about the organization I belong to. Under President Tinubu’s administration, he has come to clean tears. It didn’t bother him that you belong to another organization. But he thought about the people. So, it is not about the organization; it is who has us in his mind. Who is the man who is developing Kuje today? It is Ahmed Bola Tinubu”, the Minister said.
Wike also used the event to call on residents to reciprocate the President’s support and commitment to their development, stating: “The President has listened to you, he has told you he will support you and he has done it. It is now your duty to also reciprocate the support of Mr. President”.
He commended FCTA workers and supporters of the President, urging them to hold their heads high for breaking the record and shaming the opposition, stating that the administration has undeniably changed the narrative in the FCT.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank everybody who works with the FCTA, stand up and take a bow because you have done well… Anywhere you go to as an FCTA worker, carry your shoulders high because you have done well. We have broken the record. We have shamed the opposition. Tinubu’s administration has changed the narrative in the FCT. Tell the opposition to come and see that the FCT is working”, Barr Wike praised.
The Minister announced a temporary pause in the commissioning of road projects and a shift to the education sector, disclosing plans to dedicate another 20 days to showcasing the administration’s achievements in education.
While delivering the vote of thanks, earlier, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud described the completion of the Wuye District infrastructure as a clear testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life of residents, through enhancing accessibility.
Presenting the project overview, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, Engineer Richard Yunana Dauda explained that Wuye District was one of the residential districts in Phase Two of the Federal Capital City, bound to the north by Utako District, to the South by the Kukwaba District, to the east by Wuse District, and to the west by Daki-Biyu District.
Engineer Dauda pointed out that the scope of the project include about 37.5 kilometers of various categories of road, arterial roads of three kilometers, collector roads, 6.75 kilometers, important local streets, 8.75 kilometers, local streets, 10 kilometres and minor access roads of nine kilometers, with underground services, such as sewer pipe network, of about 39 kilometers, storm water pipe network of about 55 kilometers, water supply pipe network of 44 kilometers, box and pipe culverts all around the district, two river bridges consisting of a nine span river bridge and another three span river bridge over River Wupa.
He said that the completion of the Wuye district had enhanced private and commercial development of the District and provided critical connection between Phases One and Two of the city, thereby improving security, creating investment opportunities, and reducing travel time, as well as boosting socioeconomic activities in the city.
