The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has named the 3.2-kilometre Arterial Road and Bridge at Shagari/Satellite Quarters, Kwali, after late Nigeria’s famous potter, Ladi Kwali.
Commissioning the road on Tuesday in Kwali Area Council, Abuja, the minister described Ms Kwali as one who used her creativity to bring fame, not only to the FCT but the entire nation.
While the road had been abandoned for over 14 years, the bridge was abandoned for 20 years but was built within three months by Mr. Wike.
Addressing a crowd of jubilant residents and FCT officials, Wike said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu knows no religion, tribe, or political affiliation.
Promising to deliver three strategic roads to the people of Kwali Area Council, Wike said he would also ensure adequate illumination of the road by providing solar-powered streetlights.
He said; “It is not about party, but Nigerians; it is about you the Kwali people; it is about you the Abuja people. Because there is no one party that will use this road, and that is what is important to Mr. President. It doesn’t matter where you belong, his ambition, his vision is to make Nigerians believe that their hope must come back, and that is why we have done what we have done today.
“This is not the only road we are doing in Kwali, your chairman has announced the one that we are going to flag off soon, and there is another one that is going on. So, this year alone, Kwali will have nothing less than three roads. This was not like that before. So, Mr. President has brought back hope to all of us.”
Earlier, Kwali Area Council Chairman, Danladi Chiya said the road leads the Kwali main town to the Abuja – Lokoja highway.
While he expressed gratitude to the Minister on behalf of the people, he said for over 14 years, the road was impassable.
“This project has renewed our hope in Mr. President because before now, we had lost hope, but now, he has brought hope to my people”, he said.
Chiya praised the minister for honouring the late Ladi Kwali, saying while a road was named after her in the United Kingdom and a street in Abuja’s City centre, nothing had been named after her in her hometown, Kwali.
The talented porter who died in 1984 is the only known woman to have appeared on any Nigerian Currency, the Twenty Naira note.
