President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructural development as a cornerstone of national progress, declaring that a functioning capital is the foundation upon which a functioning nation is built.
Tinubu, who Vice President Kashim Shettima represented, made this known during the commissioning of the newly constructed Connector Road CN-8, popularly known as Asuquo Okon Road, and other roads in the Dakibiyu District of Abuja.
In his keynote address, Tinubu emphasised that infrastructure is the most visible proof of purposeful leadership.
“There is no louder proof of a government’s seriousness than the modernisation of its cities. When a city works, when its roads are paved, when its lights are on, and when its traffic flows smoothly, it tells the world that its government is not just present but purposeful,” he said.
He described infrastructure as “the most persuasive advertisement of leadership, of order, and of vision, a modern city inspires confidence, attracts investment, and most importantly, restores the dignity of those who call it home.”
The president noted that the newly commissioned roads, stretching from Obafemi Awolowo Way (Arterial Road N-5) in Jabi District to Olusegun Obasanjo Way (Arterial Road N-1) in Dakibiyu, are critical to urban renewal and economic revitalisation.
“For too long, inadequate infrastructure has choked the aspirations of these areas. Today, we tear down that wall. Today, we breathe life into communities long waiting to be seen, long waiting to be served.
“Communities will flourish, congestion will ease, and most critically, livelihoods will thrive. Shops will open, markets will thrive, children will return to school faster, emergency services will arrive quicker,” he said.
President Tinubu stressed that his administration’s vision for Abuja extends beyond the city centre to underserved communities.
“Our vision for Abuja is not limited to its glittering centre. We are equally committed to its outskirts, to its margins, to its hidden corners where dreams often struggle to break.
“Development knows no postcode, governance does not discriminate, and the dignity of our citizens is not defined by their geography,” he said.
The president commended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his dedication to infrastructural development.
“I must pay tribute to the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whose sense of urgency in the execution of these projects is well known to Nigerians.
“The resources, policy backing, and institutional cooperation needed to ensure that projects like this are delivered on time and to the highest standards,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Wike expressed gratitude to the president for approving and supporting the project, which was awarded in September 2023 and completed within a year.
“Your Excellency, there is no way to talk much, but to thank you for your continued support, and we continue to solicit for more support,” Wike said.
He recalled the poor state of the road before reconstruction, saying, “You can not believe that as a city we could have such terrible, horrible roads.”
