By Chesa Chesa
President Bola Tinubu has pledged that his administration will not relent until the dividends of democracy are evenly distributed across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), assuring residents of continued infrastructure development in both Abuja city centre and its satellite communities.
The President made the commitment on Thursday during the commissioning of the Kuje-Airport Expressway in Abuja, where he was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He said the completion of the road project underscores the administration’s determination to ensure balanced socio-economic development across the nation’s capital.
According to him, the FCT must develop as one entity, with all communities benefitting from the ongoing national renewal efforts.
“We shall not rest until the airport and its neighbouring communities become models of order, hospitality and opportunity,” Tinubu said.
“We shall not rest until the dividends of democracy are equitably distributed across the territory, from the ceremonial heart of Abuja to the settlements that sustain its daily life.”
The President described the airport corridor as more than just a transport route, noting that it serves as the nation’s gateway and shapes visitors’ first impressions of Nigeria.
He said his administration would continue to invest in roads, street lighting, drainage systems, security infrastructure and other modern facilities befitting the capital of Africa’s largest democracy.
Tinubu stressed that communities surrounding the airport should not be neglected, noting that they are home to workers, traders, farmers, students, civil servants and entrepreneurs whose living conditions should reflect the status of the nation’s capital.
“When the road to the airport works, the economy breathes better. When the communities around it are connected, the people feel seen. When the first mile into a nation is dignified, the visitor’s first impression is shaped by order, not by anxiety,” he said.
Earlier, Wike said the completion of the expressway had restored hope to residents and opened up the area for greater economic and social opportunities.
He recalled that when the current FCT administration assumed office, insecurity and inadequate infrastructure ranked among the major challenges confronting Kuje and other area councils.
According to him, consultations with traditional rulers, political leaders and community stakeholders across the six area councils identified the completion of the abandoned Kuje Expressway as a priority project.
The minister noted that the road would significantly reduce travel time between Kuje and Abuja city centre, stimulate commercial activities and boost property values in the area.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Mahmud, described the ongoing infrastructure projects across the territory as evidence of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She commended the President for supporting the FCT Administration in implementing projects aimed at improving the welfare of residents.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Administration, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, said the contract for the road was awarded in 2022 to connect major roads and highways across the FCT and neighbouring Nasarawa State.
