The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has stated that the extensive infrastructural projects underway in Abuja are the direct fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s vision for the nation’s capital. He made these remarks on Monday during the inauguration of the Mohammed Isa Road Extension in the Asokoro District.
Addressing critics of the Tinubu administration, Wike asserted a direct link between the progress in the FCT and the President’s performance. “You cannot say FCT is working and Mr. President is not working. It doesn’t make sense,” Wike stated. “He is working through us. We carry out the directive; we carry out instructions; and we carry out the vision of Mr. President, and one of the visions is that FCT must compete favourably with other cities of the world.”
The Minister urged Nigerians to acknowledge the scale of development, suggesting that if such foundational work had been completed by previous administrations, the current government could have allocated resources elsewhere. He assured residents that the transformation of Abuja is a continuous process, emphasizing that the city’s current state is markedly different from two years ago and will see further improvements.
Outlining the administration’s comprehensive approach, Wike detailed interventions across multiple sectors. “We have touched transport, we have touched roads, we have touched sports, we have touched education, and now we are touching the health sector,” he said, promising that no sector would be left untouched. He appealed for patience from the public, noting that development is contingent on the availability of resources.
Wike also called on residents to fulfil their civic obligations, directly linking tax revenue to the funding of projects like roads, drainage systems, and streetlights. “Try and pay your taxes so we can provide more of these roads,” he urged.
The article notes the political context of Wike, an official member of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), serving in the APC-led administration. While he has faced accusations of sabotaging the PDP, Wike has consistently maintained his party membership and loyalty, despite President Tinubu having previously hinted at a potential defection.
