The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, insisting that residents of the Federal Capital Territory can clearly see and experience the impact of ongoing government projects and policies.
Wike made the remarks on Monday during a media interaction in Abuja while responding to criticisms that the current administration had failed to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Addressing the concerns, the minister questioned the basis of claims suggesting that citizens were not benefiting from government initiatives, arguing that some criticisms were driven more by political sentiments than objective assessment.
“When I begin to hear people say, people are angry, people are not feeling the impact of government, I say, come, is it really just because we want to say so that we are saying something to criticise the government?” he said.
The former Rivers State governor acknowledged that the administration had not fulfilled every expectation or completed all its plans, but maintained that substantial progress had been made in several areas, particularly within the nation’s capital.
According to him, it would be unfair to ignore the visible transformation taking place across Abuja under the current government, stressing that residents who live and work in the city are in a position to assess developments firsthand.
Wike emphasized that while no administration can claim perfection, the achievements recorded so far should be recognized rather than dismissed outright.
“I’m not saying the government have done everything, I’m not saying so,” he said.
The minister noted that numerous infrastructure projects, urban renewal initiatives and policy interventions have been implemented within the Federal Capital Territory, contributing to improved living conditions and enhanced public services.
He argued that anyone residing in Abuja should be able to identify ongoing developments without allowing political preferences to cloud their judgment.
“But if you are really a resident in Abuja, can you, in truth, say you don’t feel the impact of this government? Forget about your sentiment. Forget about, oh, I want my village man to be president.”
Wike urged Nigerians to evaluate government performance based on observable outcomes rather than partisan considerations, warning that political bias often distorts public perception of governance.
According to him, separating personal political interests from objective assessment is necessary for a fair evaluation of any administration’s achievements.
The minister maintained that the Tinubu administration has continued to implement projects and reforms aimed at improving infrastructure, governance and service delivery, particularly within the Federal Capital Territory.
He added that while challenges remain and there is still much work to be done, the government remains committed to delivering on its promises to Nigerians.
“If you are really staying in Abuja, will you say this government has not made any impact in terms of whatever you may name?” he asked.
Wike further stressed that governance is a continuous process and that no administration can achieve all its goals within a short period. He said the progress recorded so far demonstrates that the government is moving in the right direction and deserves recognition for its efforts.
The minister reiterated that the administration has not attained complete fulfillment of its objectives, but insisted that measurable progress has been made in several sectors.
“And we are not saying we have done 100%. If we have done 100%, we don’t need to say, okay, give him another opportunity.”
He concluded by expressing optimism about the future, stating that the policies and programmes being implemented by the administration continue to provide hope for residents of Abuja and Nigerians generally.
According to Wike, the ongoing reforms and development initiatives reflect the government’s determination to improve the country and create a better future for its citizens.
