By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
The hitherto abandoned Kuje road project Iinking Airport Expressway awarded since 2022 by the previous administration has been completed and commissioned by the present administration led by President Bola Tinubu.
The completion of the 6- lane Kuje Road project has been described as testimony of Tinubu’s administration commitment towards eliminating the culture of abandoned infrastructure not only in FCT but across the country.
Represented during the commissioning on Thursday by the Vice President, Kashim Shetima, Tinubu declared that the completion of the major highway is a direct proof that the administration honours the pledges it made to the public.
“To appreciate the significance of this moment, we must recall why we started.
“This road was awarded in 2022, but little progress was made. It became a symbol of frustration, gridlock for businesses, dust in the dry season, and mud in the rains,”, Tinubu noted.
He noted that the his administration does not shy away from inherited issues, emphasizing a proactive approach to governance.
According to him:”The present administration does not inherit problems to abandon them. We inherit challenges to solve them.”
Highlighting the economic benefits of the project, the President noted that the road will decongest the city center by opening up peripheral economic zones, boost property values and attract fresh commercial investments to the area, and empower local farmers to transport their agricultural produce to markets swiftly and without delay.
“Now, we are giving you your time back. And time is money, and we are putting that time back in your pocket,” Tinubu said, adding that true democracy must be felt at the grassroots level, rather than just within the city center.
The President highly commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, for his relentless execution and political will in driving the project to completion.
He reiterated that despite previous obstructions, the government ensured that proper compensations were paid in accordance with the law to clear the path for development.
“You have proven once again that when we give a task to a performer, the results speak for themselves,” Tinubu said, referring to Wike.
He also lauded the construction contractors for delivering the infrastructure to international standards, while thanking the residents of Kuje for their patience during the construction phase.
Shifting focus to sustainability, the President reminded citizens that infrastructure development relies heavily on a functioning partnership between the government and the public.
He urged FCT residents, developers, and business owners to promptly pay their taxes, ground rents, and land fees to enable the replication of similar projects in other satellite towns.
He however made a direct appeal to traditional rulers, community leaders, and the youth of Kuje to take ownership of the newly commissioned asset.
“This road is yours. Guard it. Protect the streetlights, the drainage, the walkways. Do not allow vandalism. Do not turn it into an illegal market or refuse dump,” he warned, urging residents to report any acts of sabotage to ensure the highway serves future generations.
Earlier, Wike disclosed that the newly upgraded highway is expected to drastically transform the socio-economic landscape of Kuje and surrounding satellite towns by resolving the suffocating bottlenecks that previously cost commuters thousands of collective man-hours.
He noted that despite the contract for the 8.5-kilometer road being awarded on February 4, 2022, at a cost exceeding 54 billion Naira, no contractor was on-site when the current administration took over.
According to him, the completion of the project marks a historic shift in the development trajectory of the Federal Capital Territory.
He credited the milestone to the shared commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the FCT leadership.
Also speaking, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, affirmed that the commissioning of the project was a landmark achievement under the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that it reflects the administration’s resolve to improve connectivity, stimulate economic growth, and enhance the quality of life of residents.
She, therefore, urged residents to continue supporting initiatives that promote development, improve mobility, and strengthen the socio-economic prosperity of the FCT.
