President Bola Tinubu, has flagged off the construction of two new road projects in Abuja, declaring that the Federal Capital Territory must be developed through continuous infrastructure rather than what he described as “abandoned pieces.”
The projects are the Southern Parkway service carriageways from Arterial Road S20 to Ring Road II in Gaduwa District, and the Collector Road CO1 at the Institution and Research District from the Nile University axis to Ring Road III.
Tinubu, who was represented at the separate flag-off ceremonies by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said his administration was focused on extending and completing major road corridors in the capital instead of leaving them as isolated works.
At the flag-off of Collector Road CO1 in the Institution and Research District, the President said the project was a continuation of the road already linking the Body of Benchers, Nile University and Baze University, and would extend the corridor to Ring Road III.
In the president’s words, “Under Renewed Hope, we made a choice: to finish what was started and to start what must be finished. The first phase of this corridor connecting the Body of Benchers, Nile and Baze Universities is done and ready for commissioning. Today we begin the next phase to Ring Road III to complete the loop. That is how we build a city with a plan, not a city of abandoned pieces. Infrastructure must be continuous if it must be useful.”
At the Southern Parkway flag-off, Tinubu said the service carriageways were designed to complete a major corridor whose main carriageway had already been delivered by his administration.
“The Southern Parkway is a major route of the Southern Development Corridor. It starts from the Inner Southern Expressway, ISEX, in Phase 1 and terminates at ISEX in Phase 4 in the south. In line with the Abuja Master Plan, when fully developed, it will enhance vehicular traffic circulation within the southern part of the city and provide vital inter-district connection across Phase 1 and to Phase 4 of the Federal Capital Territory.
“We have already delivered the main carriageway. The main carriageway, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way, was completed and commissioned earlier in this administration. Now we are adding the service lanes to complete the vision. These service carriageways are not a luxury. They are to ease and give access to our people.”
The President said the Southern Parkway service lanes would help ease pressure on traffic around Durumi, Gudu, Gaduwa and adjoining districts, where residents currently face heavy congestion on key routes.
“Why does this matter to the citizens? Because today, the residents of Durumi, of Gudu, of Gaduwa, and the mass housing estate in Phase 2 face heavy vehicular congestion daily on S2, Abdulsalami Abubakar Way, and S2, S20, Oladipodiya Way, especially at peak periods. When these service carriageways are completed, that pain will reduce, even if not completely. Traffic will flow, travel time will drop, businesses will save money, families will spend less time in traffic and more time together. That is the dividend of democracy and that is the renewed hope that you can feel and you can touch every day.”
He said the Collector Road CO1 project would, in the same vein, open up the Institution and Research District and improve access to key educational and legal institutions in the area.
“This road is more than a route. It is a connection between learning, law, and the future of our capital. It is also a continuation of the road already completed and linking the Body of Benchers, Nile University and Baze University, which we will commission as part of projects marking three years of the Renewed Hope Administration.
“The Institution and Research District was designed to be the intellectual heart of Abuja. Universities, law chambers, research centres, and innovation hubs are growing here. But ideas cannot move if roads do not move. That is why this Collector Road CO1 matters. It will open access for students, lecturers, lawyers, researchers and residents. It will reduce travel time, ease congestion, and link this district directly to Ring Road III and the wider city. When completed, education and enterprise in this area will move faster.”
Tinubu said the projects formed part of the physical foundation his administration was laying for a knowledge-driven economy in the capital.
“Fellow Nigerians, three years into this administration, the results are speaking. From the Southern Parkway to this Institution and Research District, we are laying the physical foundation for a knowledge-driven economy. Education, justice, and innovation need roads to thrive. Today we provide those roads.”
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said the decision to continue flagging off fresh projects after 10 days of commissioning was deliberate, following concerns that infrastructure work might slow down as the 2027 elections approach.
“Today is our 10th day of commissioning of projects, but today was specifically selected because so many people have been asking questions: ‘Are you saying that after commissioning all these projects, now that we are going into elections, we don’t want projects to be abandoned?’ We said no. Elections or no elections, we must continue to do that which Mr. President has directed to make sure that we change the landscape of the Federal Capital Territory.”
He said the FCT Administration expected the Southern Parkway project to be completed before the next election cycle, adding that he had already secured assurances from the contractor, CGC Nigeria Limited, on the timeline.
Wike also warned against illegal developments along the project corridor, saying structures on lands not genuinely allocated by government would be demolished.
“All these land grabbers that started to develop land that is not given to them, it should go and be all done. All should go down. Heaven will not fall. Heaven will be at peace when things are done properly.
“So, tell the Acting Director of Development Control to liaise with the Director of Lands to make sure those that are not given land there and that have started to construct, to come and tell us that they have started building. It is in vain. We will bring it down.”
