Tinubu at Wike: we will welcome you every time you decide to join APC

President Bola Tinubu declared on Wednesday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is ready to welcome the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whenever he decides to join.

The president declared him during the arterity road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way), connecting Ring Road 1 (Nnamdi Azikiwe Way) to Armenian Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way), together with accompanying interchanges and feeding roads in the District of Maitama, Abuja.

The FCT administration led by Wike performed the projects.

By praising Wike for his dedication and collaborative approach to Governance, the President said: “He could not achieve this by himself without your full collaboration as a manufacturer and team player. You have shown that teamwork is the distinctive sign of a good leadership”.

President Tinubu recognized the support of traditional sovereigns and local communities, in particular to guarantee the regular transfer of residents affected by development:

“I congratulate the transfer of the local communities affected by development, with peace and a good compensation. The government had its part. I urge you to protect this infrastructure and use it with wisdom,” he said.

Among applause from the crowd, President Tinubu turned to the political alignment of Wike with humor.

“He is not a member of my party, not yet. But the day he changes his mind and registers with progressives, we will welcome him because we will have fun singing as” and Dey Dolce “.

President Tinubu described the project as more than a stretch of road.

“It says our commitment to transformation based on our renewed agenda of hope. What was once a missing connection is now a modern, functional and lasting infrastructure, a artery fully created through the leadership of the FCT administration under the honorable minister, lawyer Wike,” said the president.

He observed that the corridor had remained underdeveloped for years despite being an integral part of the general plan of Abuja.

“This road will facilitate the congestion of traffic around the central Abuja and will improve connectivity with developing districts such as Katami, Jahi and Bwari. He will stimulate homes and corporate growth while acting as a basis for the future integration of the cities,” he added.

President Tinubu reiterated that the development of infrastructures is essential for the progress of Nigeria, saying:

“Infrastructure is the foundation of national competitiveness, growth, social integration and economic opportunities.

“There is no way that industrialization will prosper without good roads. We invest in streets, railway, power, health care, education and digital infrastructure. We can only unlock the full potential of Nigeria through this coordinated and integrated development. I promise you, we will do it,” he said.

Reaffirming the determination of his administration to continue to provide results regardless of political distractions, said the president:

“We will continue to build and serve the people, it doesn’t matter how much minor minds pursue their policy”,

Wike praised the president for restoring public trust in the government and the increase in the confidence of contractors, who led to the accelerated completion of the key infrastructures in the FCT.

“This road was assigned by the Administration. It is not one of those projects that we inherited,” he said, observing that the Federal Executive Council approved the project in September 2023 and reported the following month.

Initially she admitted that she was skeptical about the CGC Contractor Nigeria Limited until she observed their performance on another project.

“Companies and contractors are competing with each other to have a job assigned to them and are ready to mobilize on the site without the government pay for the initial mobilization. This is the creation of trust, and that’s what you created,” Wike said to the president.

“No contract you have assigned under the city has been abandoned. When you do your third anniversary next year, you will see that practically all the contracts you have assigned under you as president will have finished, to the glory of God,” he said.

The minister underlined the importance of the road just completed, saying that he connects judicial and administrative critical areas.

“He leads to the neighborhoods of the judges, to the Court of Appeal, the Federal Court and the territory of the Federal capital and the court of the judges is almost ready,” he said.

Wike added that the visible impact of the Tinubu Administration had neutralized the opposition efforts in the context of the “coalition” movement.

“Your good works have defeated the coalition. I have commissioned my people to guarantee that every national television station should hook to the inauguration of the projects. They will see what is going on every day on national television on each television channel. They have no choice but to watch Mr President for the next 17 days,” he said.

Presentation of a technical brief, the executive secretary of the acting of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Eng. Richard Yunana Dauda, ​​explained that the arterial road completed N16 starts from the Nnamdi Azikiwe (Ring Road One) highway near Transcorp Hilton and extends to Armenal Road N20 (Wole Soyinka way).

“The corridor integrates Maitama, Katami, Utako, Jahi and surrounding districts, providing critical connections for residents and commercial users.

“The scope of the work includes the construction of an exchange with two bridges, a overpass with interconnection rings that connect Ring Road One and a ride over the Nnamdi Azikiwep highway. The N16 artenerial is a double six -lane carriageway with covered parking spaces, actually making it an eight -lane road,” he said.

He added that the 3.7 -kilometer road was delivered with complete engineering infrastructures, including underground drainage systems of surface waters, underground channels of various sizes, supply of sewer and water supply, telecommunication pipes and modern road lighting systems.

“The work has been practically completed and is ready to be used. The completion of this project provided the diffusion and connection so necessary within the city, in particular by connecting the 21 districts of Maitama, Utako, Jahi and others,” said Dauda.

*Bayo Onanuga
Special consultant of the President
(Information and strategies).