Wike criticizes David Mark over FCT roads and defends Tinubu’s record

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike criticized former Senate President David Mark for his record on infrastructure, asserting that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has achieved more road construction in three years than Mark did during his tenure in national leadership.

Wike made the remarks on Thursday during the commissioning of the interchange at the Arterial Road N16–Ring Road II junction, which connects the Jahi and Gwarimpa districts in Abuja. President Tinubu was represented at the event by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The minister’s comments followed recent criticisms from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he said had acknowledged the administration’s achievements in road infrastructure.

“African Democratic Congress has conceded that in terms of road infrastructure, Mr. President has done very, very well. Without roads, you cannot go to hospital, you cannot go to school, and you cannot go to farm. Roads are the bedrock of development in any society,” he said.

Turning to Mark, whom Wike identified as the chairman of an ADC faction, the minister questioned the former Senate President’s record on infrastructure delivery during his eight years in office. He cited the Akwanga–Makurdi road, a project awarded under Mark’s watch that remained in deplorable condition throughout his tenure.

“The poor people could not afford to travel to Makurdi because there was no road. But David Mark, as Senate President then, was flying helicopters. Today, because of the intervention of this administration, people can drive freely to Makurdi and Otukpo. The same David Mark, who once relied on helicopters, can now travel by road too,” said Wike.

The minister argued that the Tinubu administration has demonstrated what can be achieved through political will and continuity in governance. He noted that the Jahi–Gwarinpa interchange project, commissioned on Thursday, was awarded before the current administration took office but had received no mobilisation or meaningful progress until the present government intervened.

“One of the problems of development in Nigeria is that new administrations often abandon projects initiated by their predecessors. But President Tinubu has shown that government is a continuum. What matters is completing projects for the benefit of the people, regardless of who awarded them,” he said.

Wike disclosed that residents of the area had long doubted the project would ever be completed, describing its delivery as a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory.

He also rejected claims that the administration’s development efforts were limited to road construction, pointing to investments in water infrastructure across FCT satellite towns. He recalled the recent commissioning of water supply projects in Karu and announced that a similar project in Bwari would be inaugurated on July 14.

“It is not correct to say we are only doing roads. In Karu, we commissioned water supply infrastructure, and by July 14 we will commission another major water project in Bwari. These are projects designed to improve the lives of ordinary people,” he said.

Wike challenged critics to point to comparable investments in satellite towns under previous administrations, insisting that the Renewed Hope Agenda is delivering tangible benefits across the territory.