On a day marked by protests and disruptions across the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over unpaid salaries and allowances, President Bola Tinubu commissioned newly constructed access road in the Giri District, commending FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike for what he described as visionary and transformative leadership.
Despite the tension in the on Monday FCT, where aggrieved workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) shut down operations and demanded the sack of the Civil Service Commission Chairman, Tinubu who was represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the administration is commitment to equitable development across the territory and itโs focused on infrastructure, and inclusion.
โThis road is not just an achievement in infrastructure, it is a symbol of unity, access, and a reminder that development must reach every part of the FCT, not just the city centre,โ Abbas in a speech delivered on behalf of the President
He praised Wikeโs execution of the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying that the Giri access road was part of a broader plan to link neglected communities with opportunities and government presence.
He said, โYour actions have brought quality and excellence to communities long in the shadows.
No community is too small, no citizen too insignificant to benefit from the dividends of democracy.โ
Abbas also acknowledged the roles played by contractors, engineers, and community leaders in executing the project, describing the roads as โtrust between government and people, paved in asphalt.โ
He added that the Giri residents, โMay these roads lead you to greater opportunities, carry your children to school, farmers to markets, families to healthcare, and dreams to reality.
โThis is not about fanfare, but about footstepsโconcrete steps that bring hope to the people and build trust in leadership.โ
In his remarks, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike gave insight into the projectโs background and strategic importance, and described it as the 13th in a series of projects commissioned across the FCT since June 10.
He credited the National Assembly, especially the House Committee on FCT, for their support in securing budgetary provisions that enabled the roadโs completion.
โThis particular project had to go through a supplementary budget, because we understood its urgency,โ Wike said.
Wike also address recent land controversies in Giri, specifically the 11,000 hectares allegedly encroached upon by a university without documentation.
He announced that 4,000 hectares have now been formally allocated to the institution, with the rest reclaimed for proper development planning.
The minister said, โWe cannot allow arbitrary land grabs. Fencing without documents must stop. We will allocate land responsibly and provide the infrastructure to support real development.โ
He further outlined future plans for Giri, while noting its potential to host major institutions such as the EFCC Academy and universities.
โNow that the access roads are in place, EFCC will commence work on their academy immediately. Infrastructure attracts investment,โ he said.
Wike praised the contractorsโspecifically the company โLevanteโโfor their timely and high-quality delivery. โI visited the site no fewer than six times, and each time I saw remarkable progress,โ he noted, and emphasised his commitment to quality control and timely execution.
On her part, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, reiterated that the project is a clear demonstration of President Tinubuโs Renewed Hope Agenda in action.
She described the Giri access roads as essential to improving connectivity, stimulating local economies, and integrating underserved communities into the development fabric of the capital territory.
โThis is yet another shining example of the administrationโs commitment to infrastructure, inclusion, and connectivity,โ she said, while praising the vision and energy of Minister Wike in fast-tracking FCT development.