President Bola Tinubu has said that his administration is rebuilding the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through strategic infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening public confidence in governance and improving the quality of life for residents.
The President stated this on Thursday while inaugurating the newly constructed interchange at the intersection of Arterial Road N16 and Ring Road II, linking Jahi District with Gwarinpa District in Abuja.
Represented by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu said the project was part of the administration’s commitment to easing traffic congestion, improving connectivity and supporting economic activities within the nation’s capital.
According to him, the interchange addresses a major traffic bottleneck that previously affected commuters travelling through Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi and Gwarinpa.
“One interchange at a time, one road at a time, we are rebuilding trust and restoring hope. Together, we will build a country where every citizen can move freely, live safely and prosper,” the President said.
He described infrastructure as a critical driver of economic growth, noting that improved road networks enhance mobility, facilitate commerce and promote national development.
Tinubu said the project reflected the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises infrastructure development as a catalyst for economic expansion and improved public service delivery.
The President also commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, for overseeing the implementation of key infrastructure projects across the FCT.
Speaking at the ceremony, Wike said the interchange project was awarded shortly before President Tinubu assumed office but had not received mobilisation funds until the current administration provided the necessary financial support.
He described the completion of the project as evidence of the administration’s commitment to continuity in governance, irrespective of when projects were initiated.
According to the minister, completing inherited projects demonstrates responsible leadership and ensures that public investments deliver value to citizens.
Responding to comments by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the administration was focusing primarily on road construction, Wike said the FCT Administration was implementing a broad range of infrastructure projects beyond roads.
He cited the recent inauguration of the Karu Water Supply Network and disclosed that another water supply project in Bwari would be inaugurated in July.
“It is not correct that we are only constructing roads. We are also investing in water supply and other critical infrastructure that directly benefits residents,” the minister said.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the interchange as a major addition to Abuja’s transport infrastructure, noting that it would improve connectivity between communities, businesses and commercial centres.
She said the project would reduce travel time, facilitate the movement of people and goods, and support the demands of the FCT’s growing population.
Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Mr Richard Dauda, said the project was awarded in May 2023 for the full development of Arterial Road N16 from Ring Road II to Ring Road III, including the construction of two interchanges.
Dauda explained that the interchange inaugurated forms part of the third phase of the arterial road project.
He noted that the Maitama section had been completed, while the Katampe section up to Wole Soyinka Way had also been finished and inaugurated. Construction work on the Jahi section, he added, is ongoing.
According to Dauda, the remaining 7.25-kilometre stretch of the road extending to Ring Road III will be completed in line with the project’s implementation schedule.
