Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has hit back at critics who downplay President Bola Tinubu’s role in the ongoing transformation of Abuja.
Speaking at the flag-off of the Mohammed Isa Road Extension project in Asokoro District on Monday, the 6th of October, 2025, Wike said it was unreasonable for anyone to claim that the FCT was performing while the president was not.
He stated: “Does it make sense to say the FCT is working but Mr. President is not working? Is everything being done in the FCT today not on the instruction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?”
Wike explained that every major initiative in the capital aligns with Tinubu’s vision of positioning Abuja to rival other global cities.
“For us, no sector will be left untouched. Through us, we carry out the vision of Mr. President and one of the visions he has is that FCT must compete favourably with other cities of the world,” he said.
The minister also took a swipe at past administrations, saying Abuja would have been in a far better condition if they had executed key projects now being revived under Tinubu’s leadership.
He added: “Therefore, let Nigerians be truthful to themselves, let us tell ourselves the honest truth that if these things were done before now, probably we would have channeled our resources to other things.
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“But because they were not done, we cannot close our eyes and say it should not be done. And therefore it looks as if nothing is going on.
“Because people who had the opportunity to carry out these activities refused to. But this government has come and made sure that all these things are done. Put Abuja in a proper perspective that the world, when you come, you say look, that is a beautiful city.
“And what we owe is to continue to support that administration that has shown leadership, that administration that has shown commitment to change our lives.
“Yes, it will not be miraculous, but it has to take time and it is moving. The way Abuja was two years ago is not the way it is today. And it will not be the way it will be tomorrow.”