Tinubu vows to ensure every part of the FCT benefits from democracy.

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

President Bola Tinubu said his administration would not rest until the benefits of democracy are shared equitably across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), its satellite towns, and the rest of the country.

He pledged balanced infrastructural and socio‑economic development for both the city centre and the suburbs of the capital, insisting that the FCT must grow as a single entity, with every district and community feeling the pulse of national renewal.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during the commissioning of the Kuje‑Airport Expressway, the President—represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima—highlighted the importance of the airport corridor, describing it as “the handshake of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He reiterated his commitment to “roads, brighter streets, safer corridors, cleaner surroundings, improved drainage, and modern facilities that befit the capital of Africa’s largest democracy.”

President Tinubu vowed to extend positive developments and improved municipal services to the area councils, ensuring peripheral districts feel the impact of government action.

He added, “We shall not rest until the airport and its neighbouring communities become models of order, hospitality, and opportunity. 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.”

Observing that a nation’s image begins at its gates, the President explained why communities around the airport “must not be treated as forgotten settlements beside national monuments.”

He noted that the airport road settlement is “home to families, workers, traders, farmers, civil servants, students, and entrepreneurs whose lives must reflect the promise of the capital they inhabit.”

“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.

President Tinubu praised FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for turning the dream into reality, calling him a trusted partner in fulfilling the administration’s pledge to make the FCT habitable and to provide all parts of the territory with the same amenities as inner‑city residents.

“He has taken this assignment with the urgency it deserves, and he has shown that leadership is best measured by completed work, not by decorated files. I commend him, the FCT Administration, the engineers, consultants, contractors, and all who brought this project to completion,” he added.

The President urged residents of the airport communities to protect the road as a shared inheritance, reminding them that public assets are a covenant between government and citizens.

Earlier, Wike said the completion of the Kuje Expressway has restored hope to residents and opened the area for greater economic and social development. He recalled that when the current FCT Administration assumed office, insecurity and poor infrastructure were major concerns in Kuje and other area councils.

Wike explained that extensive consultations with traditional rulers, political leaders and other stakeholders across the six area councils identified their most pressing needs. The Kuje Expressway was one of the key requests made by community leaders, who urged the administration to revive the abandoned project and improve access to the area.

The Minister said the road will significantly reduce travel time between Kuje and the Abuja city centre, stimulate economic activities and increase property values in the area.

Minister of State for FCT Dr Mariya Mahmud described the ongoing infrastructure development across the territory as a significant demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She commended the President for his unwavering support for the FCT Administration, which has enabled the execution of projects aimed at improving residents’ lives.

Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Administration Engr Richard Yunana Dauda explained that the contract, awarded in 2022, was designed to connect several major roads and provide links to other highways across the FCT and Nasarawa State.

Dauda noted that the project extends beyond road construction, incorporating drainage systems and bridges to enhance connectivity and provide an alternative route to Gwagwalada and other parts of the FCT.

Also present at the event were Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Senator Philip Aduda; federal legislators; presidential aides; and top officials of the FCT administration, among others.

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