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Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s infrastructure achievements, and also criticized former Senate President David Mark for what he described as poor road construction during his years in government.
Wike spoke on Thursday while inaugurating the N16 Arterial Road – Ring II Road Interchange connecting Jahi and Gwarimpa districts in Abuja. The event was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio who represented President Tinubu.
The FCT minister said recent criticism of the administration by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) nevertheless acknowledged the progress made in road infrastructure under the current administration.
“The African Democratic Congress has acknowledged that in terms of road infrastructure, Mr. President has done very well. Without roads, you can’t go to hospital, you can’t go to school, and you can’t farm. Roads are the cornerstone of development in any society,” he said.
Wike then turned his attention to Mark, whom he described as a leading figure in one of the ADC factions, questioning the former Senate President’s contribution to road building during his years at the national helm.
Using the Akwanga–Makurdi road as an example, the minister argued that the condition of the highway remained poor throughout Mark’s tenure despite being the main route in the region.
“Poor people couldn’t afford to travel to Makurdi because there were no roads. But David Mark, as Senate President at the time, flew a helicopter.
“Now, thanks to this government intervention, people can drive freely to Makurdi and Otukpo. David Mark, who used to rely on helicopters, can now also travel by road,” said Wike.
The minister stated that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated commitment to continuity of governance by completing projects inherited from the previous administration rather than abandoning them.
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He cited the Jahi-Gwarimpa junction project as an example, and noted that although the project was awarded before the current government took office, little progress was made until the Federal Government provided the necessary support.
“One of the problems with development in Nigeria is that new governments often abandon projects initiated by their predecessors. But President Tinubu has shown that government is a unit. What is important is to complete projects in the interests of the people, regardless of who delivers the projects,” he said.
According to Wike, many affected residents have lost hope that the project will be completed, thus the implementation of this project is an important milestone in the ongoing infrastructure expansion program in the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister also rejected claims that the government’s development agenda in the FCT only revolves around building roads, and highlighted investments in water supply projects in satellite towns.
He referred to the newly constructed water infrastructure in Karu and announced that another major water project would be inaugurated in Bwari next month.
“It is not true to say that we are only working on roads. In Karu, we are building water supply infrastructure, and on July 14 we will start another major water project in Bwari. This is a project designed to improve the lives of ordinary people,” he said.
Wike challenged critics to compare the current administration’s investments in satellite communities with those of previous administrations, and asserted that the New Hope Agenda resulted in measurable improvements in infrastructure and public services across the Federal Capital Territory.
