By Olawumi Oyehan
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, said the newly commissioned Airport/Kuje Road was very important to the administration because the road was abandoned since 2019, and it became a symbol of frustration due to gridlock for businesses, dust in the dry season, mud in the rains.
While commissioning the FCT Highway 105, popularly known as the Kuje Road, Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to end the culture of abandoned projects nationwide, and sustain the ongoing infrastructure development drive across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Represented by the Vice President, Alhaji Senator Kashim Shettima, Tinubu said despite the frustrations, the administration was determined to ensure the project was completed, adding that all hands were on deck to ensure they addressed all the bottlenecks.
”To understand why this moment matters, we must recall where we started. This road was awarded in 2019 and abandoned. It became a symbol of frustration — gridlock for businesses, dust in the dry season, mud in the rains.
”Therefore, when I appointed the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, I did so because he delivers. Where there was delay, we brought political will. Where there were obstructions, we paid compensation because we respect the law and we value progress.
”Beyond the concrete and asphalt, this project speaks to a larger vision. The Renewed Hope Agenda is not for the city centre alone. True democracy must be felt at the grassroots. It must be felt in Kuje. It must be felt by the commuter coming from and going to Kuje. It must be felt by every Nigerian.
”This six-lane dual carriageway we are commissioning today completely changes the game. You no longer have to endure the suffocating bottleneck that characterized the Kuje-Airport Road axis before now. Lost man hours. Now, we are giving you back your time. Time is money, and we are putting that time back in your pocket.
Tinubu stressed that, there is no going back in opening up satellite towns.
“Abuja cannot grow if only the city centre works. With this road, we decongest the capital, lift property values, attract investment, and help our farmers move farm produce to market without delay. This is how you build an economy from the bottom up,” he added.
He commended Wike for his exemplary leadership, the contractors, the residents, and everyone involved in the project.
In his speech, Wike said before now the Airport Road-Kuje was very bad, while the Kuje township road, Kuje-Gwagalada roads were death traps.
He said, “What we did, in that first six months in office, was to dualize the garage junction to about four, five kilometers, to their farm, so they would be able to use and go to farm. But, how do you come into Kuje? even if you take Gwagwalada, you would stop somewhere, you can’t pass, the road was not in existence. It was a death trap. It was here for kidnappers and hooligans, trying to molest, harass citizens and residents of Kuje.
”As I speak to you, they also requested dualisation of Kuje to Gwagwalada. Your Excellency, knowing fully well that God is with this administration, and God will never disappoint us, we also committed ourselves to also dualize Kuje to Gwagwalada.”