You ended era of abandoned roads in FCT, Tinubu hails Wike

By Samuel Solomon

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for ending what he described as the era of abandoned road projects in Abuja.

The commendation follows the commissioning of the full-scope development of Akinwumi Ajibola Street in Gaduwa District.

The President, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, inaugurated the road project comprising Important Local Streets (ILS) 16, 18 and 19, saying Wike had transformed infrastructure delivery in the nation’s capital by ensuring projects were completed rather than abandoned.

Tinubu said the minister acted decisively after reviewing files on the neglected project, returning contractors to site, setting timelines and ensuring adequate funding.

This was contained in a statement issued by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka.

“When the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, reviewed the files and saw the neglect, he did not issue another memo. He brought contractors back to site, set clear targets, and backed them with funding. Under this administration, there is no excuse of ‘no money,’” the president said.

He praised Wike’s approach to project execution, saying it had changed the culture of service delivery in the FCT.

“Minister Wike, let me put it on record. You have changed the delivery culture in the FCT. You ended the era of mobilisation without movement. You ended the era of abandoned inner roads while major highways took all the attention.

“You are taking development from the city centre into the districts and the satellite towns, street by street, so that no resident is left behind. That is leadership.

“You inspect, you correct, you finish. Minister, you have my confidence, you have my commendation, and the FCT has your results. Well done to you and to your team,” Tinubu said.

He noted that residents of Gaduwa had endured years without a motorable access road despite building homes in the district, adding that the completed project would improve mobility, increase property values and reduce travel time and vehicle damage.

The President also urged residents to safeguard the infrastructure by avoiding the dumping of refuse in drainage channels and vandalism of streetlights and other road facilities.

“Do not dump refuse in the drains. Do not vandalize the streetlights or road furniture. Report damage early. A street built by government and maintained by its community becomes permanent. That is the partnership I am asking for,” he said.

At the event, Wike warned the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Maikalangu, against renaming roads constructed by the Federal Government without approval.

The minister said while local government councils have the statutory responsibility for street naming, they must obtain federal approval before naming roads built by the Federal Government.

“Let me also warn the Chairman of AMAC: do not wait for us to construct roads to put your name on them. There are people here who have no street named after them. You wake up in the morning to see streets named after individuals, yet it is the Federal Government that constructed them.

“Do not use our projects to collect revenue. Use your own money to construct roads and then name those streets after whomever you wish. I do not want a situation where we come here tomorrow and see someone’s name on a street we built. Chairman AMAC, I hope you have heard us,” Wike said.

He recalled serving as a local government chairman and acknowledged that street naming falls under local councils but stressed that roads built with federal funds remain subject to federal approval.

“I am aware of the argument that naming streets is the sole responsibility of local government councils. I was once a council chairman myself, so I understand that. However, if it is the Federal Government that constructed the roads within the city, permission must be obtained from the Federal Government before you name those streets,” he said.

Wike said the commissioning marked the 16th day of a 31-day project inauguration programme organised to commemorate the administration’s third anniversary.

According to him, President Tinubu had directed that infrastructure development should extend beyond the city centre to every district and satellite town in the FCT.

He said several districts, including Kwali, Jahi-Gwarinpa, Katampe and Guzape, had already benefited from the administration’s infrastructure drive, citing the recent commissioning of the 13.3-kilometre Gomani-Bafa-Yangoje Road in Kwali Area Council.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, described the completion of the Gaduwa road project as another milestone in the administration’s efforts to transform the capital city under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

She reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to sustained infrastructure development across the FCT.