The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its sweeping reforms and transformative projects, declaring that the momentum has left political opposition scrambling ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike made the remarks on Wednesday at the commissioning of the N16 to N20 road project, which runs from Nnamdi Azikiwe Way through Katampe to Wole Soyinka Way in Abuja.
According to the minister, the rapid pace of development under Tinubu’s leadership has disrupted the plans of opposition groups, which he claimed had been plotting a coalition to challenge the president’s re-election prospects.
“I thought there would be a coalition, but when people see new projects being unveiled daily, that idea collapses,” Wike said.
“It has failed because the good work is too obvious to ignore.”
To ensure Nigerians witness the transformation firsthand, Wike revealed that he instructed his media team to broadcast all FCT project inaugurations on national television.
He also listed a schedule of upcoming commissioning ceremonies, including a 15-kilometre road to Wassa on Friday, another project at Life Camp on Monday, and the new INEC Headquarters on Tuesday.
Wike described the completed N16 to N20 road project as exceeding expectations both in pace and quality.
“The road inaugurated on Wednesday was awarded in September and commenced in October 2024. It was later extended through Gishiri Village to connect Wole Soyinka Way,” he said.
He noted that although the extension was only officially approved by the FCT Executive Council last week, the contractor had already completed it, trusting the administration’s assurance of prompt payment.
“Contractors now have confidence to execute projects knowing they will be paid. President Tinubu has brought that trust back, and the people of the FCT are seeing progress like never before,” he added.
Communities affected by the project, Wike noted, were fairly treated and compensated at 200 percent of valuation under the president’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The minister thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and promised that no project initiated during his tenure would be abandoned.
In his response, President Tinubu lauded Wike and his team for their commitment to infrastructure development, describing the FCT Minister as a “team builder and a team player.”
“Infrastructure is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It is the bedrock of national competitiveness, growth, social integration, and economic opportunity,” the president said.
Also speaking at the event, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, expressed appreciation to residents for their patience during the construction period.
“To the people of Gishiri, Maitama, and the entire FCT community, thank you for your resilience and belief in the government’s capacity to deliver. You are the heart of this city, and this project is a tribute to your enduring hope,” she said.
Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Mr. Richard Dauda, described the newly inaugurated road as a 3.7-kilometre, six-lane dual carriageway.
He said the road connects Shehu Shagari Way (N16) with Wole Soyinka Way (N20), effectively linking Maitama District in Phase I with Katampe, Jahi, and Mabushi districts in Phase II.
