Wike Promises More Projects for Kuje

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday assured residents of Kuje Area Council in Abuja that more development projects will be carried out in the area while also warning the incoming council chairman not to abandon the people after assuming office. He made this known during a visit to Kuje to thank residents for their support during the recent area council elections.

Wike met with traditional rulers, community leaders and residents during the visit and said the Federal Government would continue to bring development to Kuje. He said the projects are part of efforts to appreciate the support given to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and candidates linked with his administration during the elections.

The minister explained that political leadership should involve responsibility to the people who voted for their leaders.

According to him, public officials should remain accountable and continue to serve the communities that supported them during elections instead of distancing themselves after winning.

Wike said his visit to Kuje followed a directive from President Tinubu asking government officials to return to communities to appreciate their support rather than take it for granted.

He added that the administration had already fulfilled some of the requests earlier made by leaders and residents of the council.

He recalled that during a town hall meeting held earlier in Kuje, traditional rulers asked for the completion of the road connecting Airport Junction to Kuje and the dualisation of the Kuje Garage Road.

Wike explained that the Garage Road project has already been completed and commissioned, while the Airport Road to Kuje project has resumed after the contractor returned to site.

According to him, the construction company handling the Airport Road project assured the government that the work would be completed in time for inauguration before the third anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration.

The minister also spoke about the 16-kilometre road linking Kuje to Gwagwalada. He said the project, which is being handled by Gilmor Engineering Nigeria Limited, is progressing well and may be ready for commissioning around June if work continues as planned.

Wike further assured residents that more projects would begin once the newly elected chairman of the council is sworn into office. He said the FCT Administration would meet with traditional leaders in the area to decide which roads and development projects should begin first.

While addressing the incoming chairman, Wike advised him to remain close to the people and continue engaging with residents regularly.

He warned that leadership at the local level requires constant presence within the community and urged him not to distance himself from the people after assuming office.

The minister also cautioned that power and wealth can change people quickly, urging the chairman-elect to stay humble and remain focused on serving the community.

Wike said he was pleased with the outcome of the council election in Kuje and described the result as a sign that residents have confidence in the current administration and its development plans.

Earlier during the event, the outgoing Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Abdullahi Sabo, thanked the minister for visiting the council to appreciate residents after the elections.

He said the minister’s leadership has helped bring development to many parts of the Federal Capital Territory and called him a leader who connects people across communities.

Sabo also urged residents of Kuje to cooperate with the incoming administration so that development efforts in the area council can continue without interruption.

In his remarks, the chairman-elect of Kuje Area Council, Danladi Samuel Shekwolo, expressed appreciation to the minister for supporting his campaign during the election.

He assured residents that his administration would work to improve their welfare and deliver development projects across the council.

Shekwolo also appealed to the minister to support the construction of major roads linking Kuje with neighbouring communities such as Gwagwa, Rubochi and Kebi. He said better road connections would improve business activities and movement within the area council.

The chairman-elect added that his administration plans to work closely with the FCT Administration to improve infrastructure and promote development in Kuje and surrounding communities.