By Sarah NEGEDU
More than 220 kilometres of roads have been completed across the Federal Capital Territory’s satellite towns since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, according to figures released by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Friday.
Wike said 317 kilometres of roads had been awarded in the satellite towns since May 29, 2023, with 221 kilometres completed and another 96 kilometres still under construction.
The minister challenged anyone disputing the figures to prove him wrong on national television, saying he would resign if it was established that the projects had neither been awarded nor completed as claimed.
Analysis by The Abuja Inquirer shows that the completed projects are spread across all six area councils, extending the territory’s road network beyond the Abuja city centre and creating new links between residential districts, farming communities and major highways.
In Bwari Area Council, the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road commissioned on Friday connects Kubwa and surrounding communities to the Outer Northern Expressway.
The corridor also includes the dualised Ushafa-War College-Army Checkpoint Road, while the Bwari- Chikakore, Kubwa Road remains under construction.
The southern corridor in Kwali has recorded some of the clearest network expansion.
The 15-kilometre A2 Junction to Pai Road, the 15-kilometre Pai-Gomani Road and the 13-kilometre Gomani-Dafa-Yangoji Road form a continuous link from the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway into farming communities that previously depended on narrow or deteriorated roads.
The three projects account for about 43 kilometres of the programme.
On the eastern flank, the Nyanya-Karshi dual carriageway has been completed, while the Apo-Karshi Road is ongoing. However, Wike assured that that project would be completed before the end of the year.
Other completed projects identified in the review include the Aguma Palace-Radio Nigeria-New Market Road in Gwagwalada, township road upgrades in Kuje and emergency access-road interventions carried out across the six Area Councils.
Unlike previous road programmes that were concentrated largely in the city centre, many of the projects completed under the current administration fall under the Satellite Towns Development Department, where infrastructure has historically lagged behind rapid population growth.
Representing President Tinubu at Friday’s commissioning, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said the administration’s development policy was based on “complete inclusion” and that infrastructure would not be restricted to the high-brow districts of Abuja.
With 96 kilometres of roads still under construction, including the Bwari-Kubwa and Apo-Karshi corridors, the next test of the programme will be whether the remaining links are delivered within the timelines announced by the FCT Administration.
FCT citizens have continued to react to the development.
Osakwe Isaac on Facebook said, “Wikematic waves showing practical projects, Actions and capacity everywhere.” While Musa Mohammed Suttah described the minister as “Mr. Project and capacity leader. No doubt, you are the best among your peers.”
For Michael Ntia II, “curse him, insult him, or criticize him, but Nyesom Wike remains one of the best politicians I have ever known.
“He has consistently shown commitment to delivering development, quality projects and improving the lives of his people…there’s nowhere you will not like wike…Mr talk and do.”
