Wike promises completion of Airport Road–Gwagwalada project by December

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has promised that the Airport Road–Tipper Garage to Gwagwalada road project will be completed and commissioned by December.

Wike gave the assurance on Friday during an interactive engagement with political leaders, traditional rulers, women and youths in Kuje Area Council.

He said traditional rulers in Kuje had identified the road as a priority during one of his earlier visits, asking the administration to fix it before making other demands.

According to him, the first phase of the project has already been commissioned, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Tinubu during activities marking the administration’s third anniversary.

“Let me assure you, to the glory of God, by the end of December, we will also commission the one that leads to Gwagwalada,” Wike said.

The minister urged residents to compare the former condition of the road with its current state, describing the project as part of efforts to improve connectivity and living conditions in the FCT’s satellite towns.

He also advocated the adoption of the Rainbow Coalition model, saying it had brought peace and political stability to the FCT and Rivers State.

Wike said the coalition had shown that politicians from different parties could work together in the interest of the people rather than allow partisan differences to fuel hostility and violence.

“If Nigerian politics can come to this level, we will not be hearing about fighting; we will not be seeing ourselves killing each other,” he said.

He explained that the coalition had brought politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) together to pursue shared objectives, adding that the model was also being implemented in Rivers State.

He said candidates emerging under the arrangement would have the backing of stakeholders across party lines, citing former FCT Senator Philip Aduda as an example.

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Wike warned residents against repeating what he described as a political mistake in the 2023 elections, urging them to prioritise accessibility, accountability and performance.

“Aduda knows them. Aduda knows when they have problems. Aduda knows when they are sleeping, and Aduda knows when they are crying. That is the essence of representation,” he said.

In his remarks, the District Head of Kuje, Shuibu Pada, assured the minister of Kuje’s block votes and appealed for the extension of road construction to interior communities, including routes connecting Rubochi, Kwali and other neighbouring settlements.

Senator Jibrin Usman Wowo said stakeholders in Kuje, including women, youths, elders and traditional rulers, had agreed to support President Tinubu and the APC.

“Honourable Minister, I want to assure you that we in Kuje Area Council have sat down and agreed that Kuje people are going to vote APC from top to bottom,” Wowo said.

The FCT APC Chairman, Tanko Yamawo, and the FCT PDP Chairman, Ismael Dogora, both commended the administration’s infrastructure programme and said the coalition had brought unity to the FCT.

“Like the chairman said in his speech, this is the first time we are campaigning in FCT and no smashing of cars is recorded anywhere because there is unity in FCT, courtesy the Honourable Minister,” Dogora said.

“You have done enough for the people of FCT. You have done a lot of things that we were always on the streets protesting, asking for the federal government to give, today nobody goes out for protest,” he added.

In her remarks, the Kuje Women Leader, Aishatu Yakubu, commended the administration for recognising women’s contributions but called for greater inclusion of women in governance.

Earlier, the Kuje Area Council Chairman, Samuel Shekwolo, commended Wike for uniting indigenous and non-indigenous communities and changing the narrative of Kuje, where young people previously believed the area was designated only for a prison station because of a lack of development.