Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that President Bola Tinubu’s massive infrastructure projects across Abuja have left critics with little to attack, insisting that visible performance has become the administration’s biggest campaign tool.
Speaking during the commissioning of the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Wike said the unprecedented transformation recorded in the FCT under Tinubu’s administration had become the clearest evidence of good governance.
Throwing a challenge to the President’s opponents, Wike said they would struggle to convince residents who have witnessed the impact of completed projects.
“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,” he declared.
The minister spoke as the FCT Administration wrapped up its 31-day project commissioning exercise, which commenced on June 9 and ended on July 17.
Describing the programme as historic, Wike said no Nigerian 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 later in the year. We thank God that from June 9 till today everything has gone smoothly. There was no accident, no incident we would regret and everybody came and left happily,” he said.
According to him, the successful exercise demonstrated that governance is about keeping promises and improving the lives of the people.
“It is unprecedented in the history of this country for a President to commission and flag off projects continuously for 28 days. When something like this happens, you can see the joy on the faces of the people,” he added.
Wike said the reconstruction of the Arab/Gbazango Road had brought government closer to the people by boosting economic activities, easing movement and improving the livelihoods of residents.
“For them, it is the impact of positive governance. For them, government has come home. If you see what this road looked like before now, you will understand why the people are rejoicing,” he said.
He maintained that governance was simply about commitment and delivering results that directly benefit citizens.
“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,” Wike stated.
The minister disclosed that more than 53 projects had so far been commissioned since Tinubu assumed office and announced that another round of project inaugurations would begin before the end of the year, with at least 10 additional projects lined up.
Responding to a request by community leaders for improved water supply, Wike directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to immediately provide water to the area.
“Go home and give your people water. That is your responsibility. Find whatever you can do and ensure they have water,” he ordered.
The commissioning of the Arab/Gbazango Road brought to a close the FCT Administration’s anniversary project programme, during which dozens of roads, bridges, housing and other key infrastructure projects were inaugurated across the nation’s capital under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
