In a striking blend of candidness and commendation, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has spotlighted the resilience of a local contractor whose performance, he says, proves that Nigerian firms can match global standards—if they can survive working under him.
Speaking at the official commissioning of the newly dualised 16.4-kilometre Ushafa–War College–Army checkpoint road, Wike admitted to being skeptical when he first encountered the name Abdul Val, the local contractor behind the project.
“I said, ‘Who is this Abdul Val?’ I’ve never heard of him in all my experience,” Wike recalled, noting his initial suspicion over the contractor’s competence due to the lack of a known portfolio.
But suspicion soon gave way to scrutiny—and eventually trust. Wike described sending his Chief of Staff to inspect the contractor’s facilities and verify the availability of construction equipment.
Still unconvinced, Wike said he personally visited the site, determined to rule out any attempt to deceive the administration with staged photos or borrowed machinery. What he found, however, was evidence of capability.
“Our administration has always said we must promote local content. We must build our own. And this man, this contractor, proved himself,” Wike said.
The minister emphasized the unrelenting pressure he placed on the contractor to ensure the road would be ready for commissioning in time for President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office.
“I was there almost every weekend. I would call him at odd hours—Saturdays, Sundays. I told him, ‘If you disappoint me, you’re not just disappointing me. You’re disappointing Mr. President.’”
Wike added humorously—but pointedly—that anyone who manages to survive working under him is equipped to handle any job anywhere in the world.
“I am not an easy person to work with. If you can survive me, you can survive anyone. This job is not just about holding an office—it’s about delivering results.”
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The minister also took time to praise the Coordinator of the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), calling him a young professional who had proven his worth through tireless work.
“I don’t know if he has a wife, but if he does, I pity her,” Wike joked. “Because I made sure that man didn’t sleep. But I’ll say this: he has not disappointed those who believed in him.”
In a powerful endorsement of the road’s significance, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu at the event, said the project marks a major improvement in quality of life for residents.
“This road was once a source of delay and frustration for commuters and traders. Today, it becomes a symbol of progress and opportunity.”
According to Shettima, the completed road will not only relieve traffic congestion but also bolster commerce, access to education, and healthcare in Ushafa, Bwari, and surrounding communities.
As development gains pace in the capital territory, Wike’s message to contractors and government officials alike is unmistakable: performance, not pedigree, is what earns trust and builds legacies.