President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated the completed road project on Akinwumi Ajibola Street in Gaduwa District, Abuja, covering three local streets, ILS 16, 18 and 19.
According to Tinubu, his administration would be judged by completed projects that improve the lives of Nigerians rather than promises.
Represented at the ceremony by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the president said families in Gaduwa had for years struggled with the absence of motorable roads, making movement difficult, particularly during the rainy season.
“We are here to open a road, but more importantly, we are here to restore access. The Full Scope Development of Akinwumi Ajibola Street, covering Important Local Streets 16, 18 and 19 in Gaduwa District, is now complete and open for use. In this government, we measure ourselves by finished work. This street is finished work,” he said.
Tinubu said the project reflected the administration’s commitment to ensuring that communities benefit from government investments.
He commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for improving project delivery in the nation’s capital, saying he had changed the culture of infrastructure execution.
“When the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, reviewed the files and saw the neglect, he did not issue another memo.
“He brought contractors back to site, gave clear targets and backed those targets with funding.
“Under this administration, there is no excuse of ‘no money’. We pay on time, and we demand performance on time,” Tinubu said.
He added that the completed asphalt pavement, drainage systems and streetlights showed that the administration was delivering on its promises.
The President praised Wike for extending infrastructure development beyond the city centre to districts and satellite communities.
“You have changed the culture of delivery in the FCT. You ended the era of mobilisation without movement. You ended the era of abandoned inner roads while major highways took all the attention.
“You are taking development from the city centre into the districts and the satellite towns, street by street, so that no resident is left behind.
“You inspect, you correct, you finish. Minister, you have my confidence, you have my commendation, and the FCT has your results,” he said.
Tinubu said the road project would improve urban mobility, reduce travel time, minimise vehicle maintenance costs and increase property values, while restoring dignity to residents who previously found it difficult to access their homes.
He urged residents of Gaduwa to protect the infrastructure by keeping drainage channels free of refuse, preventing vandalism of streetlights and public facilities, and reporting any damage.
“A street built by government and maintained by its community becomes permanent,” he said.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue expanding infrastructure across the FCT.
“Across the FCT, from the central area to the area councils, our task is fixed: finish what matters, connect what was separated, and ensure that public funds show up as public value.
“Every district deserves access. Every citizen deserves to feel government where they live,” he added.
Earlier, Wike said the commissioning was part of the 16th day of the ongoing 31-day programme organised to celebrate the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration.
He recalled that shortly after President Tinubu appointed him and the Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, the President directed that every district in the FCT must experience the impact of government projects.
According to him, the directive had guided infrastructure projects across the capital city and satellite towns.
He noted that following the commissioning of the 13.3-kilometre Gomani–Bafa–Yangoje Road in Kwali Area Council on Tuesday, attention shifted to Gaduwa, after similar projects were delivered in Jahi, Gwarimpa, Katampe and Guzape.
“We have been to Jahi-Gwarimpa, Katampe and Guzape. Virtually all the districts have been covered, and I can confidently say that no district will claim they are not feeling the impact of this administration, unlike what was experienced in the past,” Wike said.
He attributed the pace of project execution to improved cooperation with the National Assembly, which he said ensured speedy consideration and passage of the FCT budget, allowing timely release of funds for project implementation.
According to him, residents can now directly see and experience the impact of governance.
The minister also revealed that he only recently learnt that “ILS” means “Important Local Streets,” adding that the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority explained the designation to him during preparations for the project.
He said the administration planned to adopt a clearer street naming system to make roads easier to identify.
Wike warned the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) against naming federally constructed roads without approval from the Federal Government.
He stressed that although local government councils traditionally name streets, roads constructed with Federal Government funds within the capital city should not be renamed unilaterally.
“Do not wait for us to construct roads to put your name on them.
“Do not use our projects to collect revenue. Use your own money to construct roads and then name those streets after whomever you wish.
“If it is the Federal Government that constructed the roads within the city, permission must be obtained from the Federal Government before you name those streets,” he said.
