President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said his administration’s ongoing infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory are aimed at rebuilding public trust in government and renewing citizens’ confidence in governance.
He made the statement in Abuja during the inauguration of the newly completed interchange connecting Arterial Road N16 and Ring Road II, a project designed to link Jahi District with Gwarinpa District and improve movement across key parts of the city.
Represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the event, Tinubu said the nation’s capital is witnessing visible changes through a series of road and transport projects being delivered under his administration.
He explained that the newly inaugurated interchange would ease traffic congestion that had for years affected residents and commuters travelling through major districts such as Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi and Gwarinpa.
According to the President, the project will improve connectivity within the FCT, reduce travel delays, cut fuel consumption and make business activities more efficient. He stated that infrastructure remains a key driver of economic growth, adding that better road networks help connect communities, create opportunities and support development.
Tinubu said the Renewed Hope Agenda is focused on using infrastructure to unlock economic activities and improve the quality of life for Nigerians. He described the interchange as another example of the administration’s efforts to modernise public infrastructure and address long-standing challenges facing residents of the capital city.
The President also praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for overseeing the execution of projects across Abuja. He noted that ongoing works in both the city centre and satellite towns have made the impact of government more visible to residents.
Speaking at the event, Wike said the project was awarded shortly before Tinubu assumed office in 2023 but had received no mobilisation funds at the time. He credited the President for ensuring the continuation of the project despite the change in administration, describing the decision as proof that governance should be viewed as a continuous process rather than tied to individual administrations.
The minister said the government remained committed to completing inherited projects that serve public interests, regardless of who initiated them. He added that such an approach has helped accelerate infrastructure delivery across the FCT.
Wike also responded to criticism from the African Democratic Congress, which had accused the Federal Government of concentrating on road projects while many Nigerians face economic hardship. He rejected the claim, saying the administration is investing in several sectors beyond roads.
As part of his defence, he pointed to the recent inauguration of the Karu Water Supply Network and disclosed that another water project in Bwari is scheduled for commissioning in July. According to him, ongoing investments in water infrastructure demonstrate that the government is pursuing broader development goals rather than focusing solely on road construction.
He nevertheless acknowledged that critics had recognised the improvements in road infrastructure being delivered in Abuja and other parts of the country.
Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, said the interchange would play an important role in improving transportation and economic activities within the territory. She noted that the project would not only ease traffic movement but also strengthen connections between residential areas, business districts and commercial centres.
Mahmoud said the new infrastructure would reduce travel time for commuters, facilitate the movement of goods and services and support the needs of Abuja’s growing population.
Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Richard Dauda, provided details of the project. He explained that the contract for the development of Arterial Road N16 from Ring Road II to Ring Road III, including two interchanges, was awarded in May 2023.
According to him, the interchange inaugurated on Thursday forms part of the third phase of the broader road project. He noted that earlier phases covering the Maitama and Katampe sections had already been completed and commissioned, while work is continuing on the Jahi section.
Dauda added that the remaining 7.25-kilometre stretch leading to Ring Road III would be completed in the coming stages as construction progresses. He said the overall project is expected to strengthen transportation links across several districts and support future expansion within the Federal Capital Territory.