President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the accelerating pace and impressive quality of infrastructure development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stating that the legacy of Minister Nyesom Wike will be measured not by his response to critics, but by the visible transformation under his watch.
Speaking through Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the commissioning of the newly completed Left-Hand Service Carriageway of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) Stage II—from Ring Road I to Wasa Junction—President Tinubu urged Wike to stay focused. “The President told you yesterday, do not mind those who are criticizing you. Remain focused on the country to deliver,” Akpabio said. “Nobody will remember you for how you answered your critics. They will remember you for the legacies that you are leaving behind. And we are seeing the legacy.”
Visibly impressed by the project, Akpabio remarked that even the blind could feel the impact of the road. “Even the blind walking through this Wasa Road will know Nigeria is indeed working. If they were the ones (your critics), they would have seen. But because it is you, they choose to remain blind,” he said, noting that the expressway is now a benchmark for how modern urban infrastructure should serve growing communities.
The 15-kilometre stretch, constructed by CCECC Nigeria Limited, forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader national infrastructure renewal plan. The road connects key districts such as Wasa, Apo, Gudu, and parts of Lokogoma—facilitating mobility, safety, and economic activity. “This infrastructure fully demonstrates our commitment to sustainable urban development, enhanced mobility, and improved quality of life for FCT residents and Nigerians at large,” Akpabio stated, while commending Wike and his team for reviving long-abandoned projects with “discipline, quality, and speed.”
In his address, FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike emphasized the difference between mere political gestures and actual governance, stating: “Let it be clear—we’re not flagging off projects. We’re commissioning completed ones. There’s a big difference.” He took a jab at critics who, he said, ignore the wave of transformation happening across Abuja.
Wike defended the decision to rename the International Conference Centre (ICC) after President Tinubu, saying those opposed to the move are simply politically mischievous. “Someone said we didn’t name it after the person who built it. Did Nnamdi Azikiwe build the airport? Did Moshood Abiola build the stadium named after him? People just talk for talking’s sake,” he quipped.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for his unwavering support for infrastructure renewal under the Renewed Hope Agenda. She said the newly completed carriageway was not just a road but a symbol of Nigeria’s journey toward inclusive development. “This project improves mobility and opens new economic doors for the people of Abuja,” she said.
Dr. Mahmoud also commended Minister Wike for his bold leadership and praised the contractors, engineers, and local communities for their professionalism and cooperation. “Let us take pride in this accomplishment—not just as a completed road, but as another step toward a stronger, more prosperous nation under the visionary leadership of President Tinubu,” she concluded.
