Road - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jan, Thu, 2025

Metro

Tinubu’s administration is about Nigerians not party, says Wike

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By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says President Bola Tinubu’s administration is not about party but about changing the lives of Nigerians.

Wike stated this while inaugurating the five-kilometre dualised Kuje township road, from Tipper Garage Junction to LEA Secretariat, in Kuje Area Council, Abuja.

He explained that the execution of various people-oriented projects across the six area councils was in fulfilment of Tinubu’s pre-election promise to residents of Abuja.

“You have fulfilled your own part. The covenant Mr President has entered with you was that you should vote for him.

“Having voted for him, Mr President is now coming to fulfil part of his own agreement.

“You, having performed your own agreement, Tinubu is now coming to perform his agreement by providing basic infrastructure for you.

“We know we have not gotten to the point you all want but by the grace of God, we will get there.

“My people say, ‘small, small, you will catch a monkey.’ We are getting there,” the minister said.

Wike, who could not hide his excitement over the display of joy by the people of Kuje, stressed that the essence of governance was to make people happy.

“Since you are happy, then we are happy; when you are not happy, we cannot be happy,” he added.

The minister added that the Tinubu-led government understands the plights of the people, describing it as a “government that communicates with the people.”

He explained that only Tinubu’s administration gives residents the opportunity to ask for what they want, and the government would fulfil their demands.

“So, the renewed hope agenda is a reality. I can assure you that with your continued support, you will get more projects in Kuje,” he said.

Wike explained that the Kuje township road was executed following a demand by the Gomo of Kuje, Jibrin Tanko, who equally appealed for the completion of Airport Road to Kuje.

He explained that the project was awarded to Arab Contractors by the previous administration at more than N59 billion.

He said that to renew the hope of residents of Kuje, Tinubu government had recalled the contractor, and the project was ongoing and would be completed soon.

He also said that the FCT Administration had promised to dualise Kuje to Gwagwalada Road, adding that work had already begun by Gilmor Engineering ltd.

The Minister also announced the Administration’s decision to extend the Airport Road to Kuje up to Pegi and from Pegi, in response to the demand of the residents.

“President Tinubu has approved the extension of Airport Road – Kuje Road to Pegi. We will also continue from there to Kwakwu.

“By the grace of God, when we are presenting our statutory budget to the National Assembly, we will include it.

“Again, sometime last year, we went to China and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CGC, a Chinese company to provide water to satellite towns.

“One of the benefiting area councils is Kuje Area Council,” he said.

Wike also said that Tinubu has provided N50 billion in the 2025 budget to provide water to the satellite towns, adding that Kuje would be a beneficiary.

Earlier, the Chairman of the council, Mr Abdullahi Sabo, commended Wike for investing huge resources for the development of area councils.

Sabo said that Wike’s dream of transforming satellite towns in FCT was becoming a reality, adding that Kuje was wearing a new look following the Minister’s intervention.

Thanked the Minister for extending the contract for the dualisation of Kuje to Gwagwalada Road.

He appealed for the extension of the ongoing construction of Airport – Kuje Road, from Kuje to Kwaku, covering 27 kilometres.

He said that the request was necessary due to the importance of the road, to connect more than 100 villages and communities to Abuja city, via Kuje.

“The road, if constructed, will address the challenge of insecurity in that axis, improve agricultural production, transportation of agricultural produce to urban centres and reduce rural urban migration.

“As area council, we have one bush clearance, constructed culvert and graded the road while construction of three bridges is ongoing across three major rivers along the road,” he said.

The chairman also appealed to the Minister to connect Kuje to the Lower Usuma Dam water for the residents to enjoy clean water.

According to him, since the creation of Kuje Area Council, the residents rely heavily on boreholes for clean water.(NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jan, Thu, 2025

Metro

Wike’s projects beaming light of hope on rural communities – Etsu Kwali

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By Philip Yatai

Mr Luka Nizassan, Etsu of Kwali, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s rural road projects are beaming a light of hope on rural communities.

Nizassan stated this while reacting to the newly inaugurated 11-kilometre Yangoji – Sukuku – Ebbo Road in the area council executed by the Wike-led FCT Administration.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, that the communities contribute 30 per cent of food production to the Kwali Area Council.

He described the road project as the most impactful project undertaken by the Wike-led FCT Administration to transform rural communities.

According to him, the construction of the road has renewed the hope and trust of his people in President Bola Tinubu-led federal government and the commitment to deliver good governance to the people.

“No one would have thought that these communities would receive such massive infrastructural intervention until Wike beamed the light of hope on us.

“This road will increase agricultural production by enhancing the movement of farm machines and reducing the cost of transporting agricultural inputs.

“The communities are now accessible for businesses and the evacuation of agricultural products to larger markets, thereby, increasing the economic value of agricultural products.

“This will have a direct bearing on food security and poverty reduction.”

The traditional ruler added that one of the immediate benefits of the road was the significant improvement of security in the area.

He explained that the communities were hitherto prone to kidnappings and other security challenges.

“The road has now provided security agencies the needed access to patrol and respond to distress calls promptly, thus, de-escalating the activities of criminal elements in the area,” he said.

NAN reports that the FCT Minister had on Monday begun the inauguration of completed road projects in rural communities across the six area councils of the territory, beginning with a five-kilometre road in Abaji Area Council.

Wike, said while inaugurating the 11-kilometre Yangoji–Sukuku–Ebo Road on Tuesday, that the gesture was part of Tinubu’s commitment to develop rural communities. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jan, Mon, 2025

Metro

How Wike’s road project promotes socio-economic activities in FCT community

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By Philip Yatai

Residents of Saburi I and II communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council, have described the recently constructed road in the community initiated by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, as a “game changer.”

Some of the residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, that the road project had significantly improved socio-economic activities in the area.

NAN correspondent alongside other members of the Ministers’ Press Corps, visited the community to assess the impact of road projects on FCT communities.

NAN recalled that Wike had on Jan. 21, 2024, inaugurated the construction of a 5-kilometre access road, connecting Saburi 1 and 11 and Dei Dei International Market.

The minister had said that the road, from Murtala Mohammed Expressway to Dei DeI International Market, was designed to ease the suffering of the people, particularly during the wet season.

The residents told NAN that the road had improved their businesses and triggered enormous socio-economic activities and other developmental strides in the area.

One of the residents, Mr Emmanuel Ogboh, a shop owner, said that businesses in the community had improved owing to the increased vehicular movement since the construction of the road.

The visibly excited Ogboh thanked Wike for extending his developmental agenda to Saburi community.

Also, Mrs Justina Ocheche, who sells beans cake, popularly known as Akara, said that her business had improved since the completion of the road.

Ocheche said that when the road was not completed her akara business suffered due to heavy dust particularly during the dry season and mud during the raining season.

“However, since Wike happened, there is no more dust or mud; people are now moving freely and we are experiencing significant patronage.

“God will bless Wike and his generation yet unborn because of what he did for us in Saburi and Dei Dei,” She said.

The akara seller, however, called on the FTC administration to tackle the epileptic electricity and portable water supply in the community.

“Sometimes this community stays two weeks without water supply due to epileptic power supply,”she decried.

Village Head of Saburi, Alhaji Muhammad Yamawo

A furniture maker, Mr Nicholas Emmanuel, said that the dust that before now emanated from the road had affected furniture business in the community.

He explained that furniture made of fabrics accumulates dust, making it unattractive to prospective buyers.

He added that residents were always putting on nose masks to protect them from the dust and prevent catarrh.

“Now the dust is over and so is our catarrh.

“We thank God that the minister remembered us in Saburi and we pray that God will keep him to continue the good work he has started,”he prayed.

For Mr Akin Akinwande, a car wash owner in the community, said that the road network was a game changer for his business.

“Before now, you barely see 20 cars pass through this community in a day, but now more than 100 ply this road daily.

“This is good for our businesses and we thank Wike and President Bola Tinubu for this gesture,” he said.

Mr Emeka Oduma, a truck driver, said “I am very impressed with what Wike did for us in this village; I am happy and everybody is happy that our minister is doing a good job.

“I have been in Saburi 1 for close to 10 years and the road was in terrible state, but thank God for Wike who is setting a good example for others to follow,”he said.

Describing Wike as a “good man” , Oduma urged the minister to continue with the good works by opening more roads in rural communities of the FCT.

The Village Head of Saburi, Alhaji Muhammad Yamawo, who could not hide his joy, described the road project as its “new bride.”

“This road is like someone who has never gotten married and when he finally does, he feels like the whole world belongs to him.

“We have suffered a lot due to the absence of a good road in Saburi, but we are happy that Wike has finally wiped our tears,” he said.

The village head also commended the minister for the ongoing construction of a Police Station and a hospital in the community.

NAN reports that the 5-kilometre Saburi to Dei Dei road is among several road projects awarded by the Wike-led FCT Administration in rural communities across the six area councils of the territory. (NAN)

Edited by Polycarp Auta

Philip Daniel Yatai
Nov, Thu, 2024

Metro

Area councils’ road projects: Wike optimistic of meeting December deadline

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By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has expressed optimism that the ongoing roads projects across the six area councils of the FCT would be completed in December.

Wike stated this after he inspected some ongoing road projects in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Wike had, in February 2024, inaugurated the construction of several road projects in satellite towns and rural communities across the six area councils of the territory.

The projects, meant to transform rural economies and improve the quality of rural dwellers, were expected to be completed in December.

Some of the projects inspected on Wednesday included the ongoing Dutse – Bwari road resurfacing and the upgrading of War College/Army Checkpoint Road and other ancillary roads in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council.

The minister also inspected the reconstruction of 25-kilometre Kwaita – Yebu and the 11km Yangoji – Sukuku – Eba road projects, in Kwali Area Council.

The minister, who said he didn’t want to be pessimistic, expressed confidence that the contractors would deliver the projects on agreed timelines.

“You know we had heavy rains this year, and we gave contractors December to complete the projects, but you can see the level of job they have done; quality job, and this is in rural areas.

“We are still working on the December deadline. I don’t want to say that the roads would not be completed. I don’t want to be pessimistic.

“I have seen the contractors, and they told me that they will complete the roads and hand them over to us in December; let us keep to it. I think there is no need to doubt them.

“In as much as we do our own part, I am sure they will also fulfil their own promise,” Wike said.

He expressed satisfaction with the pace of the projects inspected so far, adding that when completed, the roads would have a positive impact on benefiting. communities.

He promised to do everything possible to make sure that the contractors get paid.

“When you see contractors who are committed, you on your own part, as government, will also carry out your own obligation by making sure they are funded in order to complete the roads and make the people happy,” he said.

He explained that he decided to go round some of the projects to see things for himself and not be told stories.

He added that the expanse of land in rural communities, if properly harnessed, would address the problem of food security in the FCT.

On what is in store for other communities in the FCT, the minister pointed out that government was continuum, adding that the current administration would do all it can to reach many communities with life-impacting projects.

He assured that President Bola Tinubu-led administration would complete all projects embarked upon, while the next administration would continue from the administration stops.

“We cannot solve all problems. Even if you are in office for 20 years, there will still be problems, but what is important is that people can see that you are making efforts to reduce their burden.

“That is what is important.

“So, like I said before, all areas in Abuja, be it in the city, be it in satellite towns, will all feel the impact of this government,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru