Wike challenged critics to deny the FCT highway project, and said he would quit if proven wrong

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has thrown down the gauntlet to critics who question his administration’s infrastructure performance, stating that he is ready to resign from office if anyone can prove his claims regarding the construction of roads in Abuja satellite communities are false.

The minister made the declaration on Friday while officiating the reconstruction of the Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, where he highlighted what he described as unprecedented investment by the Tinubu administration in road infrastructure across the FCT satellite towns.

Presenting figures to support his claim, Wike said the FCT Government, since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, has awarded contracts covering 317 kilometers of roads in satellite communities, and most of them have been completed.

“I am talking to you, since Mr President took office, 317 kilometers of roads have been provided in satellite towns. Of that 317 kilometers, we have completed 221 kilometers, while 96 kilometers are underway,” said Wike.

He stressed that the statistics only relate to projects in satellite towns and do not cover road construction in downtown Abuja.

“This is only for satellite cities, not the FCT as a whole. For satellite cities, 317 kilometers are given, 221 kilometers completed, and 96 kilometers running,” he added.

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The Minister also assured residents that the two strategic road projects currently under construction will be completed before the end of the year.

“I assure Mr President, the road from Apo to Karshi will be completed before the end of this year. The road from Bwari to Kubwa will be completed before the end of this year,” he said.

According to Wike, the scale of infrastructure provision under the current administration has brought meaningful development to communities outside the Federal Capital city centre, reversing years of neglect.

“How can the people of satellite cities say they don’t benefit from the government? They have felt the impact of government administration. That has never happened in the history of this country,” he said.

Convinced by the figures presented, the former governor of Rivers State challenged anyone who disputes his claims to publicly provide evidence to the contrary.

“If anyone has a contrary view, let him come out and challenge us that everything you say is not true. I will resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he stressed.

Reiterating the challenge, Wike stressed that critics must present the debate to a national audience within the next 48 hours.

“Maybe you didn’t hear me well. Let me say it again so you hear it well. I’ll tell you later.”

“If there is anyone, I don’t know which association you belong to. I don’t know which group you may belong to. But if you know you have a view that is contrary to what I said, I challenge you in the next 48 hours to go on national television and say that since this government came in, we have not delivered 317 kilometers of roads in the satellite towns and we have not completed 221 kilometers.

“I will resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.”

Wike credited the pace of infrastructure development in the region to the support President Tinubu has given his administration, as well as the good working relationship between the FCT Government and the National Assembly.

“First of all, one would love to commend you for the support you have given us, and commend the National Assembly for the support and relationship we enjoy with them,” Wike said.

He reiterated the government’s determination to maintain the momentum of infrastructure provision across the region, stating: “On your mandate, we will support.”