Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has thrown down the gauntlet to critics questioning his administration’s infrastructure record, declaring that he is prepared to step down from office if anyone can prove his claims on road construction in Abuja’s satellite communities are false.
The minister made the declaration on Friday during the commissioning of the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, where he highlighted what he described as the Tinubu administration’s unprecedented investment in road infrastructure across the FCT’s satellite towns.
Presenting figures to support his claims, Wike said the FCT Administration had, since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, awarded contracts covering 317 kilometres of roads in satellite communities, with a substantial portion already completed.
“As I speak to you, since the assumption of office by Mr President, roads covering 317 kilometres have been awarded in the satellite towns. Out of that 317 kilometres, we have completed 221 kilometres, while 96 kilometres are ongoing,” Wike said.
He stressed that the statistics related exclusively to projects in satellite towns and did not include road construction within the Abuja city centre.
“This is only for the satellite towns, not the FCT as a whole. For the satellite towns, 317 kilometres awarded, 221 kilometres completed and 96 kilometres ongoing,” he added.
The minister also assured residents that two strategic road projects currently under construction would be completed before the end of the year.
“Let me assure you, Mr President, the road from Apo to Karshi will be completed before the end of this year. The road from Bwari to Kubwa will be completed before the end of this year,” he said.
According to Wike, the scale of infrastructure delivery under the current administration has brought meaningful development to communities outside the Federal Capital City’s urban core, reversing years of neglect.
“How will satellite town people say they have not benefited from government? They have felt the impact of governance. It has never happened in the history of the administration of this country,” he stated.
Confident in the figures presented, the former Rivers State governor challenged anyone disputing his claims to publicly produce contrary evidence.
“If there’s anybody who has a contrary view, let him come out and challenge us that all this you are saying is not correct. I will resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he declared.
Reiterating the challenge, Wike insisted that critics should take the debate to a national audience within the next 48 hours.
“Maybe you didn’t hear me well. Let me say it again so you hear it well.
“If there’s anybody, I don’t know of any association you may belong to. I don’t know of any group you may belong to. But if you know you have a contrary view to what I have said, I challenge you in the next 48 hours to come on national television and say that since this administration came, we have not awarded roads of 317 kilometres in the satellite towns and we have not completed 221 kilometres.
“I will resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.”
Wike credited the pace of infrastructure development in the territory to the support President Tinubu has provided his administration, as well as the cordial working relationship between the FCT Administration and the National Assembly.
“One is happy, first of all, to commend you for the support you have given to us, and to commend the National Assembly for the support and relationship we have enjoyed with them,” Wike said.
He reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to sustain the momentum in infrastructure delivery across the territory, declaring: “On your mandate, we shall stand.”
(Ripples)
