President Bola Tinubu yesterday commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for giving his administration a successful first-year landing.
Tinubu gave the commendation during the inauguration of the Arterial Road N20, which runs from the Northern Parkway to the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Arterial Road N20 is one of the transverse arterial roads connecting the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) and the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) through the sector centres.
It will enhance vehicular traffic circulation from the bounding districts of Mabushi, Katampe, Jahi, and Kado through the sector centres.
Speaking at the inauguration of the critical infrastructure, President Tinubu thanked Wike, saying that the acronym WIW (Wike is Working) resonates with his accomplishments in the first year.
“Your hard work and dedication have made this day possible. The efforts of the Minister and his team have brought to fruition a critical artery that will significantly enhance connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and improve the quality of life for the residents of the FCT,” Tinubu said.
The President described the project as another testament to his administration’s development agenda of transforming every part of the country.
•Names FCT road after Soyinka
He approved the naming of the road in honour of Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.
”Let me say that the recommendation to name this Arterial Road N20 after Wole Soyinka is well received. He is our foremost playwright, novelist, and Nobel Prize winner.
”He has brought Nigeria fame, pride, and international acclaim. Thank you for thinking that way. We all accept your recommendation on behalf of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Tinubu said.
The President said the project reinforces his government’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and fostering sustainable development.
“The completion of this strategic project underscores our dedication to building a robust and resilient infrastructure that meets the needs of our growing population and stimulates economic growth.
“I am also aware that the project enabled the creation of employment opportunities for over 1,500 Nigerians. This is commendable and serves as a credit to the Renewed Hope Agenda for creating job opportunities for our teeming youth.
“As we commission this road today, we must also recognize the broader vision that it serves. This project is a critical component of our administration’s comprehensive plan to transform the FCT into a world-class city.
“It equally aligns with our broader objectives of improving urban infrastructure, promoting sustainable development, and ensuring that our cities are well-prepared to meet the challenges of the future,” the President stated.
Tinubu also stated that the successful completion of the Arterial Road N20 project should serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives across the nation, adding: “I encourage other sub-nationals to take a cue from what is happening in the FCT and replicate them in their local communities.”
*We‘ve drawn plan to transform FCT into world-class city -Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu says his administration has drawn a comprehensive plan to transform the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into a world-class city.
Tinubu disclosed this at the inauguration of the Arterial Road N20, named after Prof Wole Soyinka.
“This project is a critical component of our administration’s comprehensive plan to transform the FCT into a world-class city.
“It equally aligns with our broader objectives of improving urban infrastructure, promoting sustainable development, and ensuring that our cities are well-prepared to meet the challenges of the future,” he said.
Tinubu described the project as another testament to his administration’s developmental agenda of transforming every part of the country.
He said the project reinforced his government’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and fostering sustainable development.
“The completion of this strategic project underscores our dedication to building a robust and resilient infrastructure that meets the needs of our growing population and stimulates economic growth.
“I am also aware that the project enabled the creation of employment opportunities for over 1,500 Nigerians. This is commendable and serves as a credit to the Renewed Hope Agenda for creating job opportunities for our teeming youth. As we commission this road today, we must also recognise the broader vision that it serves,” he said
Tinubu noted that the successful completion of the road project should also serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives across the nation.
“I encourage other sub-nationals to take a cue from what is happening in the FCT and replicate them in their local communities,” he said.
Speaking on why he approved the recommendation to name the road after Soyinka, the President said, “he is our foremost playwright, novelist, and Nobel prize winner.
”He has brought Nigeria fame, pride, and international acclaim,” he added.
Earlier, Wike while delivering his address, had said that one of the things President Tinubu had always done was to encourage people who had done well and had excelled in their ways.
“When you do that, you encourage other people too that tomorrow the government will also recognise them for doing well. It is not when somebody dies that we will remember his contribution,” Wike said.
“It is good that when someone is alive and has contributed and has made this country happy, recognise him, instead of waiting for when he dies. A dead man does not know what happens. So, I will appeal to you that let us recognise one of our own, to name this road after him who has done well,” he stressed.
“The only Nobel Laureate we have that has made Nigeria proud in the world. I recommend that this road should be named ‘Wole Soyinka Way.’ In that case, other people will have hope. People like me will have hope that tomorrow, they will also recognise me,” he said.
Wike disclosed that the road was awarded in 2020 at the contract sum of N30.6 billion.
He added that it is the only road project that his administration ensured its completion without contract cost variation.
