Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that no President in Nigeria’s history has delivered infrastructure on the scale achieved by President Bola Tinubu in the last three years, insisting that the current administration has transformed both the nation’s capital and its satellite towns.
Wike made the assertion while speaking at the commissioning of access roads to the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates in the Karsana West District of Abuja as part of activities marking President Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.
The minister was reacting to comments made by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who had earlier stated that Tinubu’s administration had constructed more roads in the Federal Capital Territory and its satellite communities than any previous administration.
Defending Akpabio’s remarks, Wike criticised attempts by some commentators to dispute the claim.
“Let me correct one impression. This morning, as we were trying to set out, I was privileged to watch television and the presenter tried to take on the Senate President over his statement that no President in this country has constructed infrastructure the way President Tinubu has done,” Wike said.
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He explained that Akpabio’s remarks were specifically focused on infrastructure development within the FCT, where the Senate President had carried out official engagements the previous day.
“We were in Abuja yesterday and the subject matter had to do with infrastructure as far as the FCT is concerned.
You said, and it’s correct, that no President has constructed—not only in the city centre but even in the satellite towns—the number of roads in Nigeria’s history. That was what you said.
“Even if you said the whole Nigeria, you are right, but your comment centred on the FCT where you were carrying out your assignment yesterday to talk about Mr President,” he stated.
Wike maintained that residents of Abuja’s satellite communities are witnessing an unprecedented level of government attention through the provision of critical infrastructure.
“Let anybody come out and say whether the satellite towns have ever known governance like this before. Nobody knew about this Karsana District, but today, see where we are. It is all about the provision of infrastructure.
“So, stand firm in what you said. We will defend you with our actions,” the minister added.
He reiterated that the Tinubu administration remains committed to extending development beyond the city centre to underserved communities, saying the ongoing projects across the FCT reflect the President’s resolve to improve the quality of life for residents through massive infrastructure investment.