New Abuja Road Projects Key To Nigeria’s Commonwealth Games Bid — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that the ongoing construction of critical road infrastructure in the nation’s capital was a strategic move to bolster Nigeria’s bid to host the next Commonwealth Games.

Wike disclosed this on Tuesday during the flag-off ceremony for the construction of the Access Arterial Road S1, stretching from Ring Road 2 to the FCT Fire Service Station in the Kaura District of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

The minister directly linked the city’s development to its international ambitions. “I hope you are aware that Nigeria is bidding to host the next Commonwealth Games. And it will be difficult for us to achieve that if we don’t have a good network of roads,” he stated.

He explained that a modern road network would serve as a major selling point to the international committee.

“When the committee comes and they see that the basic infrastructure is being provided, that gives us a leeway to be given the hosting right,” he said.

Beyond the international bid, the minister highlighted the projects’ critical local impact, particularly for emergency services, pointing to the adjacent FCT Fire Station, noting that poor road access has historically hampered its effectiveness.

“We have always talked about fire incidents and the response is not usually timely. But we don’t ask ourselves, it is not only the fact that maybe they may be lacking some basic amenities, but also they don’t have good network of roads that will enable them to move down,” Wike said.

He expressed confidence that the new 2-kilometre road project, which includes a 3-span bridge, would drastically improve the situation.

“By the time this road is constructed, anywhere there is any fire incident and they are called upon, they will respond immediately. Again, this is also to contribute to the efficiency in their job delivery,” he said.

The minister also called on the firm hadling the project, which he praised for its work on the Abuja-Kaduna Road, to employ locals from the district, stating, “I want to plead with the company to give the residents the opportunity to participate in this road construction by employing our teeming youth who are willing to work.”

Wike reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s commitment to transforming Abuja under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, citing ongoing projects like the Airport-Kuje Expressway and the Kuje-Gwagwalada dualisation.

“It is the hope of the Renewed Hope Agenda that before the first tenure of Mr. President ends, Abuja will be a different place and it competes with other cities of the world,” he said.

For her part, the FCT Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud, in her closing remarks, underscored that the project aligns with the President’s vision for improved infrastructure.

“It will also improve response time and operational efficiency of the FCT Fire Station located in the area, thereby strengthening public safety and disaster management,” she said.

Mahmoud further noted that the road would open up Kaura District further for socio-economic development, boosting property values, investment, and the quality of life for residents.