By Eunice Orike
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, has assured residents of Kuje and surrounding communities that the ongoing construction of the Airport–Kuje Road will be completed and commissioned within the third year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing the project as a flagship of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking during a routine inspection of ongoing work on the Wuye District Infrastructure and the Federal Highway 105 from the Umar Musa Yar’Adua Expressway to Kuje township, Wike commended the pace and quality of work, noting that the eight-lane dual carriageway will drastically cut travel time between Kuje and the Abuja city centre to less than 20 minutes.
“If you live in Kuje, you don’t need to find a house in the city to work. Once this road is commissioned, you’ll be in the city centre in 15 to 20 minutes. That’s what development is all about,” he said.
The minister, who recalled that similar interventions had accelerated development in the Wuye District, said the massive infrastructure rollout across the FCT aligns with President Tinubu’s vision to expand urban connectivity and economic opportunity for residents.
On security concerns raised by residents, Wike maintained that Abuja remains one of the safest cities in the country, adding that the administration’s light up Abuja project is aimed at improving both aesthetics and safety underscores government’s integrated approach to development.
“We do agree that something may happen but that does not mean that Abuja is not safe…I don’t want us to take that to mean that the city is not safe. If there is one safe city in this country, I think Abuja is that city”, Wike said.
Speaking on the projects inspected, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the pace and progress of work, noting that Arab Contractors, the firm handling the Wuye District infrastructure, has assured that the project is nearing completion, with the road expected to be finished within 10 days.
Wike also praised the work on the Airport Road to Kuje dual carriageway, which he had visited multiple times.
The Minister noted that the 8-lane road will significantly reduce travel time, allowing Kuje residents to reach the city center in just 15 to 20 minutes.
He expressed confidence that the road will be inaugurated during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third anniversary celebration.
“For a regular passerby who knows this area very well, if you come here now, you will give it to them; Arab Contractor has done a good job. You can see how beautiful the landscape is. We believe that, God willing, just as they have promised, with our support, and we will continue to support. Latest, during the third anniversary of Mr. President, we believe that this road will be one of the roads that will be inaugurated to the delight of residents of Kuje and the entire people of Abuja, and of course to the happiness of all Nigerians”, he said.
Addressing sanitation challenges, Wike also confirmed that the FCT Administration is actively removing indiscriminately dumped refuse, particularly along Airport Road and in the Nyanya/Karshi area.
He revealed plans to award new contracts for refuse disposal within the next two weeks, promising to select only competent contractors with the capacity to ensure that the city remains clean.
