President Bola Tinubu on Thursday commissioned the newly completed Airport Expressway to Kuje Township in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), pledging sustained investment in infrastructure across satellite towns to drive economic growth, improve connectivity and enhance residents' quality of life. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the inauguration of the N54 billion project, Tinubu described the six-lane dual carriageway as a testament to his administration’s commitment to fulfilling promises and ending the era of abandoned projects.
Keeping Promises
“Today, we are not just commissioning a road; we are keeping a promise,” the President said. “Three years ago, we took an oath to serve Nigerians and pledged to end the era of abandoned projects. FCT Highway 105 stands as proof that we keep our word. This administration does not inherit problems to abandon them; we inherit challenges to solve them.” The president recalled that though the road project was awarded in 2022, little progress was made before his administration assumed office. According to him, the project had become synonymous with frustration, traffic congestion and difficult commuting conditions for residents.
Renewed Hope Agenda
He said the completion of the road aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to extend development beyond city centres to underserved communities. “This project is more than concrete and asphalt. The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just for the city centre. True democracy must prevail at the grassroots. The commuter travelling to and from Kuje must feel the impact of governance, and every Nigerian must feel it,” Tinubu noted. He added that the road would eliminate bottlenecks that previously characterised the Airport-Kuje corridor, reduce travel time, stimulate economic activities and improve access to markets for farmers and businesses.
“Abuja cannot grow if only the city centre thrives. With this road, we are opening up our satellite towns, decongesting the city, increasing property values, attracting investment and helping farmers move their produce to markets without delay. This is how you build an economy from the bottom up,” he said.
Commendations and Calls to Duty
The president commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for driving the project’s completion, describing him as a performer whose results speak for themselves. He also lauded the contractor, Arab Contractors, for delivering the project to international standards and urged residents to protect the infrastructure from vandalism. Tinubu called on residents, businesses and property owners to fulfil their civic obligations by paying taxes, ground rents and other statutory fees to enable the government to fund more infrastructure projects.
Earlier, Wike disclosed that the project, spanning about 8.6 kilometres, was awarded on February 4, 2022, at a cost of over N54 billion but suffered prolonged delays before the current administration revived it. He said the completion fulfilled one of the key requests made by traditional rulers and stakeholders during consultations held across the six area councils shortly after the administration assumed office. According to the minister, the road had become a security risk and a major challenge for residents, serving as a haven for kidnappers and criminal elements due to its poor condition.
“Today, we see this beautiful road, but we may not appreciate it unless we remember how it was before. It was a very difficult road. In fact, it became a political road. Many people never believed it would be completed,” Wike said. The minister revealed that securing funds for the project was a major challenge, but the administration remained determined to deliver on its promise to the people of Kuje. He further announced that the administration would soon commission the Kuje-Gwagwalada dual carriageway as part of efforts to expand infrastructure development in satellite communities.
