Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the infrastructure achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while taking aim at former Senate President David Mark over what he described as poor road development during his years in public office.
Wike spoke on Thursday during the commissioning of the Interchange at the Arterial Road N16–Ring Road II Junction connecting the Jahi and Gwarimpa districts of Abuja. The event was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who represented President Tinubu.
The FCT minister said recent criticisms of the administration by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had nonetheless acknowledged the progress made in road infrastructure under the current government.
“African Democratic Congress has conceded that in terms of road infrastructure, Mr. President has done very, very well. Without roads, you cannot go to hospital, you cannot go to school, and you cannot go to farm. Roads are the bedrock of development in any society”, he said.
Wike then turned his attention to Mark, whom he described as a leading figure within a faction of the ADC, questioning the former Senate President’s contribution to road development during his years in national leadership.
Using the Akwanga–Makurdi road as an example, the minister argued that the highway remained in poor condition throughout Mark’s tenure despite being a major route in the region.
“The poor people could not afford to travel to Makurdi because there was no road. But David Mark, as Senate President then, was flying helicopters.
“Today, because of the intervention of this administration, people can drive freely to Makurdi and Otukpo. The same David Mark, who once relied on helicopters, can now travel by road too”, said Wike.
The minister maintained that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated a commitment to continuity in governance by completing projects inherited from previous governments rather than abandoning them.
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He cited the Jahi-Gwarimpa interchange project as an example, noting that although it was awarded before the current administration came into office, little progress had been made until the Federal Government provided the necessary support.
“One of the problems of development in Nigeria is that new administrations often abandon projects initiated by their predecessors. But President Tinubu has shown that government is a continuum. What matters is completing projects for the benefit of the people, regardless of who awarded them,” he said.
According to Wike, many residents of the affected communities had lost hope that the project would ever be completed, making its delivery a major milestone in the Federal Capital Territory’s ongoing infrastructure expansion programme.
The minister also dismissed claims that the administration’s development agenda in the FCT revolves solely around road construction, highlighting investments in water supply projects across satellite towns.
He referenced the recently commissioned water infrastructure in Karu and announced that another major water project would be inaugurated in Bwari next month.
“It is not correct to say we are only doing roads. In Karu, we commissioned water supply infrastructure, and by July 14 we will commission another major water project in Bwari. These are projects 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 governments, insisting that the Renewed Hope Agenda is producing measurable improvements in infrastructure and public services across the Federal Capital Territory.
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