News Investigators/ The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike says history will be kind to President Bola Tinubu for the ongoing transformation of FCT satellite towns.
Mr Wike stated this in Abuja on Thursday, during the inauguration of the full-scope development of FCT Highway 105, from Airport Expressway to Kuje Junction.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu was represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima to celebrate his third year in office.
The minister said that the dual development of the Abuja city centre and the satellite towns, including hard to reach communities by the Tinubu administration was unprecedented.
He described the government as simply an “institution that provides basic infrastructure and visible facilities that improves the quality of life of the people”.
“Your Excellency, history will be on your side for what your administration has done for the satellite towns in FCT.
“I want to say to anybody, when people ask, ‘where is the government?’ tell them Kuje road is government; when they ask, ‘where is government?’ say Kuje to Gwagwalada Road is the government,” he said.
He said what the Tinubu administration did in the first six months in office was to dualise the road from Tipper Garage to LEA Secretariat in Kuje.
“But the challenge was, how do you come into Kuje? Even if you go through Gwagwalada, you will stop somewhere you can’t pass,” he said.
He pointed out that before the construction of the FCT Highway 105, there was no safe and smooth road to Kuje.
He said: “The road was not in existence. It was a death trap. It was safe for kidnappers and hooligans trying to molest, harass citizens and residents of Kuje.
“We may think, oh it’s an ordinary road, anybody can do it. If that was so, they would have done it.
“This is one road that I never dreamt of, that today, we will come to inaugurate. It was a very, very difficult road. In fact, it became a political road.
“Your Excellency, today I feel so happy. If there is anything that makes me very happy today is that we are inaugurating this particular road”.
He explained that the completed project, which was awarded in 2022 followed an appeal by Kuje traditional rulers, who requested that the project be resuscitated and completed.
He added that the traditional rulers also requested the dualisation of Kuje to Gwagwalada, which is being executed in phases with the first phase ready for inauguration.
The minister amplified Tinubu’s call on residents to pay ground rents and other statutory fees to enable the FCT Administration extend the highway to Nasarawa state.
While inaugurating the project, Tinubu said: “When I appointed Mr Wike, I did so because he delivers.
“Where there were delays, we brought political will and where there were obstructions, we paid compensation because we respect the law and value progress.
“Beyond the concrete and asphalt, these projects speak to a larger vision. The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just for the city centre. True democracy must prevail at the grassroots.
“It must prevail in Kuje and the commuter coming from or going to Kuje must feel it. Every Nigerian must feel it.
“To the FCT minister, you have proven once again that when we give a task to a performer, the results speak for themselves”.
Earlier, Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, explained that the FCT Administration awarded the contract to Arab Contractors Nig. Ltd in 2022.
Mr Dauda said that the FCT Highway 105 is a key regional road that traverses the FCT right from the Murtala Muhammed Expressway, down to the south to connect the Abuja-Abaji-Nasarawa Road in the southern part of the FCT.
He said that the 76-kilometre road is planned to link other future federal roads to the FCT and other parts of the country through Nasarawa State.
He however said that the current scope, a six lane 8.6-kilometre road, from the Airport Expressway to Kuje was the first stage of the full development of the highway, with other stages to follow in due course.
“The scope of works for this project includes the construction of about 8.6 km of two main carriage ways, each of three lanes in both directions, making it a six-lane dual carriage way.
“The completion of this project has greatly reduced the travel time, increased circulation and opened up the districts in Kuje – Wawa District, Giri District, and the interconnection to the Airport Expressway.
“It has also improved security in the area as well as improved the socioeconomic lives of the residents, in addition to other inherent benefits which have attracted significant investments in this area.
“The road will also serve as an alternative road to the Gwagwalada and the Abaji-Abuja-Lokoja road when completed,” he said.
NAN