President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the newly completed six-lane dual carriageway linking the Airport Expressway to Kuje, describing the project as a major step toward decongesting Abuja’s city centre and expanding development to satellite communities across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The 9-kilometre road project, officially known as FCT Highway 105, was inaugurated on Thursday during a ceremony attended by senior government officials, traditional rulers, and community leaders. The President was represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Speaking at the commissioning, Tinubu said the road project symbolises his administration’s commitment to delivering on its promises and improving the quality of life for residents of the FCT.
He noted that the highway, which includes two river bridges, would significantly ease traffic congestion, reduce travel time, and improve connectivity between Abuja city centre and Kuje.
According to the President, the road will boost economic activities in the area by enhancing access for traders, farmers, and businesses while encouraging investment and increasing property values.
“This six-lane dual carriageway completely changes the experience of movement between Kuje and the city centre.
Residents will no longer endure the traffic bottlenecks that previously characterized this route. We are giving people back valuable time that can now be invested in productive activities,” he said.
Tinubu stressed that the development aligns with his administration’s vision of ensuring balanced growth across the FCT, noting that the capital city cannot achieve sustainable development if attention remains focused solely on the urban centre.
He commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for driving the completion of the project and ensuring compensation was paid to affected residents to facilitate construction.
The President also urged residents, developers, and property owners to fulfill their tax obligations, including the payment of ground rents and land charges, to enable government to fund similar infrastructure projects across other satellite towns.
He further called on traditional rulers and youths in Kuje to protect the road from vandalism and illegal activities.
Earlier, Wike recounted the history of the project, revealing that the road had been awarded in February 2022 at a cost exceeding ₦54 billion but was abandoned before the current administration assumed office.
The minister said traditional rulers in Kuje had repeatedly appealed to the government to revive the project due to the severe challenges residents faced while using the road.
“When we came into office, there was no contractor on site and the project had effectively been abandoned. The people of Kuje had lost hope, but today that hope has been restored,” Wike stated.
He added that the FCT Administration also completed the 4.5-kilometre dualised road linking Garage Junction to LEA Secretariat Road in Kuje, which had previously been notorious for traffic congestion and accidents.
Wike disclosed that construction work on the Kuje-Gwagwalada dual carriageway was progressing steadily and would soon be ready for commissioning. He noted that the road would further improve transportation and security within the area.
The minister argued that ongoing infrastructure projects across the FCT demonstrate the impact of the Tinubu administration and challenged critics to assess the government’s performance based on visible developmental achievements.
He also announced that newly elected Area Council Chairmen in the FCT would be sworn into office next Monday following their victory in the February council elections.
In her remarks, FCT Minister of State Mariya Mahmoud described the road commissioning as a significant milestone under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She said the project would strengthen connectivity, support economic growth, and improve the standard of living for residents of Kuje and neighbouring communities.
Providing technical details of the project, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, explained that Highway 105 is a strategic regional route linking the northern and southern parts of the FCT.
He said the completed first phase comprises approximately 8.6 kilometres of dual carriageway, with three lanes on each side, connecting the Airport Expressway directly to Kuje Junction.
Managing Director of Arab Contractors, Engr. Mohamed Eledarous, expressed satisfaction with the successful delivery of the project, stating that the company remained committed to supporting infrastructural development within the FCT.
The newly commissioned highway is expected to improve mobility, enhance security, and stimulate economic activities in Kuje and surrounding communities while supporting efforts to reduce pressure on Abuja’s city centre.
