By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA: Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that President Bola Tinubu’s extensive infrastructure delivery in Abuja has effectively silenced political critics, insisting that visible performance remains the strongest response to opposition.
Speaking during the commissioning of the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Wike said the scale of projects executed under the Tinubu administration had transformed governance in the territory and provided residents with tangible evidence of government performance.
“If there are opponents of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with what you have done in their lifetime, they cannot do anything again. If they go to the people of Gbazango, the people will ask them, ‘When you were there, what did you do?’ This is what we call ‘operation show your report card.’ If you call Tinubu today, he will show you his report card on the satellite towns and on the city. Abuja is shut down. Abuja is closed,” Wike declared.
The minister revealed that since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, the administration had awarded a total of 317 kilometres of roads within the FCT satellite towns alone. Of this figure, he said 221 kilometres have been fully completed, while 96 kilometres are ongoing, adding that this is separate from major infrastructure projects executed within the city centre by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), which saw 53 major projects officially commissioned during the period.
Wike issued a 48-hour challenge to critics to dispute the figures. “It is unprecedented in the history of this country for a president to commission projects for 28 days, commissioning and flagging off 31 projects. If anybody has a contrary view, let him come and challenge us. I challenge you in the next 48 hours to say we have not awarded 317 km of roads and completed 221 km in the satellite towns, and I will resign as Minister of the FCT,” he said.
The minister made the remarks as the FCT Administration concluded its 31-day project commissioning programme, which began on June 9 and ended on Friday, July 17, 2026. Describing the exercise as unprecedented in Nigeria’s history, Wike said no president had ever commissioned and flagged off projects continuously for such a long period.
“Everything that has a beginning has an end. Today we are taking a break to refill and energise ourselves before returning before the end of the year. We thank God that from June 9 till today, everything went smoothly. There was no accident, no incident that we would regret, no fighting. Everybody came and left happily,” he said.
According to him, the successful completion of the commissioning exercise reflected the administration’s commitment to delivering development rather than making promises. “It is unprecedented in the history of this country for a President to commission and flag off projects continuously for 28 days. When something unusual like this happens, you can see the joy on the faces of the people,” he said.
Wike noted that residents of Kubwa and Gbazango had experienced firsthand the impact of good governance through the reconstruction of a road that had long impeded movement and commercial activities. “For them, this is the impact of positive governance. For them, government has finally come home. If you see what this road looked like before now, you will understand why the people are rejoicing,” he said, adding that improved road infrastructure would stimulate economic activities and improve the livelihoods of traders and other business operators in the area.
“Governance is not difficult. Governance is about commitment. Governance is about making the people happy, and today the people here are happy because they have been positively impacted by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.
The minister disclosed that since Tinubu assumed office, the FCT Administration had commissioned more than 53 projects, describing the achievement as evidence of purposeful leadership. He assured residents that the pace of infrastructure development would continue, announcing plans to commission at least 10 additional projects before the end of the year. “We are taking a short break, but before the next round of national political activities, we will return to commission another 10 projects,” Wike said.
Responding to a request by community leaders for improved water supply, the minister directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority to urgently address the challenge. “Go home and give your people water. That is your responsibility. You must be prepared to solve the problem,” he directed.
The Arab/Gbazango Road project marked the final commissioning in the FCT Administration’s anniversary programme, which featured the inauguration and flag-off of major road, transport, housing and public infrastructure projects across Abuja under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
