The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has inspected major ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, expressing satisfaction with the progress of work.
The inspection covered the full-scope development of Arterial Road N16, from Jahi District through Gwarimpa to RR3; the Zaudna-Kagini-Kaba rural road linking the Old Keffi Road in Dei-Dei to the Outer Northern Expressway; and the Magistrate Court complex in Garki.
Speaking after the inspection, the FCT minister said the projects were progressing satisfactorily and would contribute to improving infrastructure and connectivity across the territory.
At the five-kilometre Zaudna-Kagini-Kaba road project, the minister told residents that the project, initiated under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was expected to be completed in December.
He said the administration’s development efforts should be assessed through projects that directly affect residents, rather than campaign promises.
The minister urged residents to support leaders whose policies and programmes addressed their needs and improved their living conditions.
At the 7.2-kilometre Arterial Road N16 project in Gwarimpa, the Minister commended the contractor for the progress recorded, while acknowledging the scale of the engineering work involved.
“It’s a major job. I’m even afraid that the completion period will be feasible. It’s a major job that is worth being done. I’m happy with what we have seen there. It’s a major turnaround as far as the FCT is concerned. I commend the contractors,” he said.
At the Magistrate Court complex in Garki, the minister said significant progress had also been recorded on the project.
He disclosed that an adjoining area previously affected by severe erosion had been reclaimed by the administration and would be used to expand judicial infrastructure at the site.
“If you came here with us last time, we had a gully. Now that gully has been reclaimed and we are going to put another court there,” he said.
The minister expressed confidence that the court project would be completed before the end of the year.
On security, the FCT minister dismissed reports of a general rise in armed robbery in the territory, while acknowledging that isolated incidents had occurred.
He said security agencies had continued to monitor the situation and were taking measures to maintain law and order across the FCT.
The minister also defended the federal government’s economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy.
He said increased allocations resulting from savings from the subsidy removal had strengthened the financial capacity of state and local governments to meet obligations, including the payment of salaries and pensions.
He urged citizens to hold their respective governments accountable for the use of increased public revenue.
Reacting to a statement by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, that he would restore the petrol subsidy if elected in 2027, the minister questioned the consistency of the position.
The minister recalled that Atiku had previously spoken in favour of removing the subsidy, arguing that political leaders should maintain consistency in their positions on major national issues.
“This was a man who said in 2022 that he was going to remove the fuel subsidy because it was a fraud. Now in 2026, he is not going to remove the fuel subsidy. Is he going back to the fraud which he has alleged that fuel subsidy was?” he asked.
The minister said leaders should be consistent in their positions and policies, particularly on issues affecting the economy and welfare of citizens.
He further argued that the current legal framework under the Petroleum Industry Act had changed the structure of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited operating commercially alongside private refiners.
He said this made a return to the previous subsidy regime difficult under the current framework.
