Three years on, Wike’s imprint dominates Abuja’s expanding infrastructure landscape

By Ben Adoga, Abuja

When President Bola Tinubu declared during the commissioning of projects marking his second anniversary that “even the blind can see what Wike is doing and the deaf can hear,” the statement resonated across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the pace of infrastructural transformation has become difficult to ignore.

Barely three years into the Tinubu administration, the imprint of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, now stretches across Abuja’s rapidly changing landscape, from the city centre to the satellite towns, from road networks and bridges to water projects, security interventions and revenue reforms.

And with another round of massive project commissioning scheduled for June to commemorate Abuja at 50 and President Tinubu’s third anniversary in office, the scale of the transformation is expected to dominate national attention once again.

For many residents, the pace has been remarkable.

“Like him or hate him, Wike is working,” President Tinubu had also remarked, a statement that has increasingly become the defining summary of the Minister’s stewardship in Abuja.

Before arriving at the FCT Administration, Wike had already built a reputation as “Mr Project” during his years as governor of Rivers State.

In Abuja, he appears determined to sustain that reputation with an aggressive infrastructure-driven agenda designed to modernise the nation’s capital and extend development beyond the elite districts.

Today, despite political tensions, policy controversies and resistance from vested interests, the administration has continued to push forward with major landmark projects across the territory.

Among the flagship projects nearing completion are the Jahi-Gwarinpa Interchange corridor and the Arterial Road N16, popularly known as Shehu Shagari Way, linking Maitama, Katampe, Jahi, Gishiri, Mabushi and Gwarinpa districts.

Other major projects include the Airport Road-Kuje Junction, handled by Arab Contractors; the Kuje-Gwagwalada Road, being constructed by Gilmor Engineering; and the Arterial Road N5 in Life Camp, also known as the Obafemi Awolowo Expressway, being delivered by Julius Berger.

The administration is also completing the Karsana Ring Road, the rehabilitation of the old Keffi Road from Dei Dei to Life Camp Junction, and the Trans-N2 Highway connecting the Central Business District to Wuse District through major bridges across River Wupa.

Other strategic corridors being prepared for commissioning include Constitution Avenue, Independence Avenue, the Gishiri Interchange linking Jahi, Maitama, and Mabushi, and the Bill Clinton Drive extension to Zuba, with a 180-metre bridge at Tunga Madaki.

The reconstruction of the iconic Abuja City Gate has also emerged as one of the administration’s symbolic projects, reflecting what supporters describe as a broader effort to redefine the capital city’s image and functionality.

Yet, beyond the urban districts, Wike’s development approach has largely focused on extending infrastructure to underserved satellite communities.

The Minister has repeatedly argued that development should not be restricted to the city centre alone.

“What urban residents enjoy should also get to rural communities,” Wike has maintained, insisting that balanced development would reduce pressure on the city while improving living conditions across the territory.

That philosophy is now visible in the ongoing water supply projects in Bwari, Ushafa, Karu, Gwagwalada and Kwali under the Greater Abuja Water Supply scheme.

The Bwari and Karu water projects are among the major facilities expected to be commissioned during the President’s third anniversary celebrations.

At the same time, water infrastructure is also being extended to communities such as Orozo, Jikwoyi, Kurudu, Azhata and Gidan Mangoro.

Road projects within Katampe, Gishiri and Gaduwa districts, as well as corridors in Bazango, Kaura and Kuje-Gwagwalada, are equally progressing toward completion.

One of the administration’s breakthroughs has been relocating traders and mechanics from the Apo Mechanic Village, an issue that had defied several administrations.

Only recently, Wike announced significant progress on the relocation process, describing it as proof that difficult governance decisions could still be implemented through political will and administrative commitment.

The administration also successfully relocated and compensated communities affected by the proposed second runway project at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after years of tensions and failed attempts by previous governments.

That intervention restored calm and paved the way for the continued expansion of aviation infrastructure in the territory.

Within the judiciary, the construction of judges’ quarters and court facilities in Katampe sparked public debate, particularly after the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) raised concerns about the possible implications for judicial independence.

Responding to the criticism, Wike argued that providing accommodation and institutional infrastructure for judges remained the constitutional responsibility of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA.

According to him, better welfare and working conditions for judicial officers would strengthen service delivery and institutional efficiency.

Beyond roads and public buildings, the administration has also pursued reforms in revenue generation and land administration.

By aggressively targeting unpaid ground rents, dormant Certificates of Occupancy, and long-standing irregularities in land documentation, the FCT Administration says it has significantly increased internally generated revenue.

According to Wike, the FCT’s monthly internally generated revenue rose from about ₦9 billion in 2023 to nearly ₦25 billion between 2024 and 2025, largely driven by improved ground rent collection and payments for Certificates of Occupancy.

He disclosed that in December 2024 alone, revenue exceeded ₦40 billion.

“We discovered that the FCT has enormous untapped potential,” Wike said at a recent event, adding that the territory could generate as much as ₦300 billion monthly if all land allottees fulfilled their financial obligations.

Security interventions have also featured prominently under the administration.

Over 100 operational vehicles have reportedly been distributed to security agencies, while new police stations have been constructed and local vigilante groups supported with motorcycles and logistics.

According to the Minister, the interventions have contributed to improved security coordination across the territory.

During President Tinubu’s second anniversary celebrations, the administration delivered more than 17 major projects, including the extensive rehabilitation of the Abuja International Conference Centre, later renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.

The renovation, handled by Julius Berger, effectively transformed the facility into a modern international conference complex.

Other projects commissioned during the period included the Southern Parkway, now renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way; the Wuye Interchange Bridge; the rehabilitated Abuja light rail system; and the Outer Southern Expressway.

Rural communities also benefited through projects such as the Paikon Kore-Ibwa Road in Gwagwalada Area Council, the Gaba-Tokulo Road in Bwari and the Yangoji-Sukuku-Ebo Road in Kwali Area Council.

Politically, Wike has remained one of the most influential and controversial figures in the country.

While managing the affairs of the FCT, he has also retained considerable influence in Rivers State politics. He continues to play strategic roles in national political alignments despite remaining a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

His close working relationship with President Tinubu has further reinforced his growing national relevance.

For many observers, however, the strongest measure of the administration’s performance remains the physical transformation unfolding across Abuja.

A retired civil servant and resident of the FCT, Mr Kunle Adewale, believes the Minister has exceeded expectations in infrastructure delivery but insists the city must now address issues of urban discipline and environmental management.

“The Minister has done so much to modernise Abuja,” Adewale said.

“But infrastructure alone does not build a great city. Residents must also change their attitude to sanitation, traffic rules and public conduct.”

He identified indiscriminate waste disposal, traffic violations, roadside trading and open defecation as major concerns requiring urgent attention.

Still, Adewale acknowledged that the ongoing waste management reforms under consideration by the administration could complement the broader infrastructural achievements already recorded.

For now, across highways, bridges, satellite towns, and public institutions, one reality is increasingly evident: three years after assuming office as FCT Minister, Wike’s imprint has become deeply embedded in Abuja’s expanding infrastructure landscape.