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Projects: Our Sense Of Geography Has Been Altered By Wike – FCT Residents

Published

4 hours ago

June 28, 2025

Editor

As part of activities marking the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike stunned the residents when he announced that no fewer than 19 projects had been completed and ready for inauguration.

Wike was right but the people, who had never seen such a feat in many decades, never believed the minister. And, it came to pass that as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, began the cutting of tapes to signal the completion of life-changing projects across the FCT, the people marvelled.

However, due to the itinerary of the president, the minister was forced to scale down the projects from 19 to 17, stating that he would commission the others on his own.

The first project that was commissioned was the newly-renovated Abuja International Conference Centre AICC, which happened on June 10.

According to Wike, the president accepted to commission 10 of the projects while Vice President Kashim Shettima will commission three on behalf of the president. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas were to commission two projects apiece, on behalf of the president.

The remaining two were to be commissioned by the FCT administration to round off the series of projects completed by the FCT administration under Mr. Wike, a PDP strong political ally of Mr. President who does not mind working closely with the APC-led Tinubu administration.

Out of 11 projects so far commissioned, the president has personally commissioned five.

Apart from the ICC (now Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre courtesy of Wike), some of the projects so far commissioned include; the Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) from Ring Road One (Nnamdi Azikiwe Way) to Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Road) and some other roads in Katampe District; the Left-Hand Service Carriageway of Outer Southern Expressway OSEX Stage II from Ring Road 1 Junction to Wasa Junction also known as Apo – Wasa road; and, The Greater Abuja Water Supply Network, Loops 1,2,5&6 of the Federal Capital City FCC.

Others are: Mabushi Bus and Taxi Terminal; Collector Road CN2, also known as Mabushi – Katampe road; the Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III (RR3); the 15-kilometre road from A2 Junction on the Abuja – Lokoja road to Pai town in Kwali Area Council; the 16-kilometre right-hand service carriageway of the Inner Northern Expressway INEX from Ring Road 3 to the Outer Northern Expressway ONEX (Murtala Muhammed Way), also known as the Idu – Zuba road; the Interchange bridges of Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way) over the Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Muhammed Expressway) by Katampe Extension; and, the Kugbo Bus and Taxi Terminal.

Within the period, President Tinubu also turned the sod for the design and construction of the headquarters annex of the electoral umpire in Maitama, Abuja.

Other projects commissioned include the 10km Aguma Palace–Radio Nigeria–Market Road in Gwagwalada; the 18km Nyanya–Karshi dual carriageway; the 7.4km Dutse Alhaji–Usuma Dam Road; and the 16.4km dualized road from Ushafa to War College and Army Checkpoint among others.

Months before then, Wike had commissioned some other roads in the satellite towns, including the 9km Paikon Kore – Ibwa road in Gwagwalada Area Council; the 7.2km Gaba – Tokulo road in Bwari Area Council; the 5km dualized Kuje township road from Tipper Garage to LEA Secretariat; the 11km Sukuku-Ebo-Yangoji road in Kwali Area Council; and, the 5km road to Saburi I and II in Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC from old Keffi road near the Dei-Dei International Market.

Residents react

As expected, there has been a flurry of positive reactions from residents, including the high and mighty.

While the president has been effusive with praises of his FCT minister in his speeches at all the events, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said he had never witnessed such pace of rapid development.

“I was a minister in the last administration. I can’t remember a day I went for commissioning of any project in the FCT”, said Akpabio.

A civil servant, Ayinde Olaniyi who lives around the Jahi area said the Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way) Interchange Bridge over Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway) has improved connectivity within the axis.

“With this bridge, it is easier to turn to the other Lane without having to drive for long. Also, the aesthetics is lovely. People around Jahi, Katampe, Katampe Extension and Also will benefit massively from this. But it will also benefit all those who use this route daily, whether they are coming from the Kubwa do Nyanya axis”, he said.

Olaniyi however begged security agencies to ensure that miscreants don’t loiter or sleep under the bridge at night.

An Uber driver, Usman Ali said it would take some time for him and others to master some of the new roads, saying there is probably a need for Google Navigation system to reconfigure the Google Map and add the new directions.

He said; “Honestly, these roads are something else. Give it to Wike. You may not like him politically but you cannot deny the fact that he has performed. Look at this Idu – Zuba road. I never imagined that the road would be done. But today, it is done and open to traffic. It is 16 kilometres of smooth sailing”.

Residents of Pai town in Kwali Area Council were also happy about the 15-kilometre A2 Junction (from the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway) to their community.

They are even more elated by the fact that the 15.4 kilometre stretch from Pai to Gomani is currently under construction while another 15 kilometre from Gomani to Yangoji has been awarded.

Some of the locals said they now have easy access to the primary school and health centre in the area.

Kubwa residents beg

Meanwhile, residents of Kubwa in Bwari Area Council have begged the minister to include them in the scheme of things.

While they praised Wike for his developmental strides in the territory, particularly in Ushafa, Bwari and neighbouring Saburi community, the residents said Kubwa being Abuja’s largest suburban town is home to a very large population and businesses.

One of the residents, Isaiah Jacob said; “We are happy with what the minister is doing. Honestly, he has tried. That is not debatable. The other day, I went to Zuba Spare Parts Market and I decided to test-drive my car and discovered a new road. I drove on the road until I found myself in Tunga Maje. Honestly, I never knew that Wike had constructed that road. You don’t need to use the Express Way to access Tunga Maje from Zuba or vice versa. And he did not make noise about it. I don’t even think the road was commissioned. I think he just constructed it and opened it to traffic without any funfair. We are only pleading that, as his budget improves, he turns his magic wand on Kubwa”.

A pastor in Kubwa, Abraham Wetkos, listed some of the roads needing emergency repairs in Kubwa.

“The longest road here is the Gado Nasko road. It needs rehabilitation. The Arab Road which remains uncompleted, also needs a lot of work. Till now, the bridge linking it to F01 is not completed. Then, there is the Chikakore road and the Sultan Dasuki Road. I don’t think all the roads combined are up to 40 kilometres. Please, honourable minister, come over to ‘Macedonia’. We need your help in Kubwa”, he said.
(VANGUARD)

News

PHOTOS: Esama Of Benin Commissions BRC Ultramodern Lounge, Promises A Phase Lift

Published

42 minutes ago

June 29, 2025

Editor

The Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, has promised to give a phase lift to the Benin Recreation Club (BRC) in the next 12 months.

Chief Igbinedion made the promise in Benin on Saturday when he officially visited the BRC to commission a newly remodeled ultramodern ‘Chief Go.O. Igbinedion Bustop Lounge.’

The Esama, who expressed dissatisfaction on how he met the ancient recreation club, said: “This place needs a drastic improvement. I would, therefore, like the committee to see me, and I promise 12 months from now, this place will wear a new look.”

Chief Igbinedion, however, thanked current and past executives of the club for a job well done, and for sustaining the BRC, saying “many organisations or associations as this have gone into extinction but you have put in your best to keep this going.”

The octogenarian, who thanked the leadership and the board of trustees for the honour done on him through the naming of a lounge, also vowed not to neglect the leadership especially knowing well that he has been a founding member of the BRC.

In his remarks, Special Guest of Honour and Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, while describing the BRC as the best place to relax after a stressful day, urged members of the public who are yet to join the BRC to do so.

Earlier in his welcome speech, president of the BRC, Courage Osamuyi said the lounge was named after Chief Igbinedion in recognition of his great support for the club and his contribution to humanity.

Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge of Edo State

The BRC president, who declared that the presence of the Esama in the BRC signifies a new dawn, said “what we are having today is just the beginning. As he has stepped into this place, greater things will start to happen.”

Osamuyi, while noting that the Esama “has been a founding member of the club over the years,” thanked Chief Igbinedion for his good work and for honouring them with his presence.

Osamuyi Courage, President of The BRC

News

Peter Obi Condemns Tinubu’s Saint Lucia Trip

Published

3 hours ago

June 28, 2025

Editor

Labour Party leader and former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s planned trip to Saint Lucia, describing it as poorly timed and lacking in sensitivity, especially amid Nigeria’s deepening economic and security challenges.

Tinubu is expected to leave Nigeria on Saturday for Saint Lucia and is also scheduled to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Obi expressed dismay over the president’s travel, questioning the state of governance in the country.

Obi argued that Tinubu’s trip highlights a pattern of misplaced priorities by the administration, particularly at a time when citizens are grappling with widespread hunger and insecurity.

“What I have seen and witnessed in the last two years has left me in shock about poor governance delivery and apparent channelling of energy into politics and satisfaction of the elites, while the masses in our midst are languishing in want,” Obi stated.

He lamented the toll of rising insecurity across Nigeria, pointing out the country’s deteriorating safety situation.

“In the past two years, Nigeria has lost more people to all sorts of criminality than a country that is officially at war.

“Without any twilight, Nigeria ranks among the most insecure places in the world. Nigerians are hungrier, and most people do not know where their next meal will come from,” he wrote.

Obi said he was stunned when he learned of the President’s travel plans, especially following what he described as a recent holiday in Lagos.

“With such a gory picture of one’s country, you can imagine my bewilderment when I saw a news release from the Presidency announcing that President Bola Tinubu is departing Nigeria today for a visit to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean,” he said.

Quoting Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, Obi noted that the visit comprises both official and personal segments.

“According to the Prime Minister’s announcement, ‘two of these days, June 30 and July 1, will be dedicated to an official visit, with the remainder of the trip set aside as a personal vacation,” he said.

Obi noted that he initially found the report hard to believe.

“I told the person who drew my attention to the Caribbean story that it cannot be true and that the President is just coming back from a holiday in Lagos.

“I didn’t want to believe that anybody in the position of authority, more so the President… would contemplate a leisure trip at this time,” Obi said.

He condemned Tinubu’s failure to visit disaster-stricken areas like Minna in Niger State, where over 200 people reportedly died and hundreds remain missing due to flooding.

“This is a President going for leisure when he couldn’t visit Minna, Niger State where over two hundred lives were lost and over 700 persons still missing in a flood natural disaster,” he said.

Obi also took issue with Tinubu’s recent trip to Benue State, claiming it was politically motivated rather than compassionate.

“The other state in crisis where over two hundred lives were murdered, the President yielded to public pressure and visited Makurdi… for what turned out to be a political jamboree than condolence as public holiday was declared and children made to line up to receive the President who couldn’t even reach the village, the scene of the brutal attack,” he said.

Drawing comparisons between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, Obi questioned the logic of prioritising a visit to the Caribbean nation over addressing pressing domestic issues.

“Makurdi is 937.4 Km², which is over 59% bigger than St Lucia, which is 617 km², and Minna is 6789 square kilometres, which is ten times bigger than St Lucia. St Lucia, with a population of 180,000, is less than half of Makurdi’s 489,839 and Minna, with 532,000 is almost three times the population of St Lucia,” the former Anambra governor said.

He concluded his post by stressing the urgent need for leadership that is grounded in empathy and focused on addressing the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

He said, “I don’t think the situation in this country today calls for leisure for anybody in a position of authority, more so the President, on whose desk the buck stops.

“This regime has repeatedly shown its insensitivity and lack of passion for the populace…”

Obi added, “This very obvious indifference of the federal government to the suffering of the Nigerian poor should urgently be reversed.

“One had expected the President to be asking God for extra hours in a day for the challenges, but what we see is a concentration of efforts in the 2027 election and on satisfying the wealthy while the mass poor continues to multiply in number.”

News

World Bank Lists Nigeria Among 39 Nations Facing Rising Poverty, Hunger

Published

3 hours ago

June 28, 2025

Editor

The World Bank has listed Nigeria among 39 countries where poverty and hunger are deepening as a result of conflict and instability.

In a report released on Friday, the bank said the economies, a mix of low- and middle-income countries, span all global regions. Among them are Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.

The report, which assesses the economic impact of conflict and fragility in the post-COVID-19 era, revealed that 21 of the 39 countries are experiencing active conflict.

According to the findings, extreme poverty is rising more rapidly in these countries, taking a severe toll on economic development, worsening hunger, and derailing progress toward key development goals.

Since 2020, the report noted, the average per capita GDP of these economies has declined by 1.8 per cent annually, in contrast to a 2.9 per cent growth rate recorded in other developing countries.

The report partly reads: “This year, 421 million people are struggling on less than $3 a day in economies afflicted by conflict or instability—more than in the rest of the world combined.

“That number is projected to rise to 435 million, or nearly 60% of the world’s extreme poor, by 2030.”