By Nafisat Makinde
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commissioned newly constructed access roads in Giri District, Abuja, as part of efforts to boost infrastructure and stimulate economic growth in the area. The President was represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
President Tinubu said: “Today, I stand before you not only to commission a road but also to express a deep and heartfelt appreciation to the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, a man whose quiet diligence and visionary leadership have continued to transform the landscape of the Federal Capital Territory.”
The President praised Minister Wike for embracing and localizing the Renewed Hope Agenda, bringing quality and excellence to communities long left in the shadows. He emphasized that the newly constructed access roads are not just infrastructural achievements but statements of intent, showing that under this administration, no community is too small or area too distant to benefit from the dividends of democracy.
FCT Minister Wike emphasized that the lack of infrastructure had greatly hindered the development of the various districts of the FCT, stressing the commitment of the FCT Administration to tackling the problem to ensure the opening up of the FCT and fostering interconnectivity. He disclosed that Giri district would be an important district that will attract so many investors, highlighting its scenic topography and expansive land.
The Minister also revealed that the road has helped stop land grabbing by the University of Abuja. “The university, on their own, grabbed 11 thousand hectares. I said, that would not happen. No, document, nothing, all you see is them fencing everywhere… So, I’ve told, the director of lands and other relevant Agencies to carve out 4,000 hectares and give to university. The other ones will be allocated because we are going to provide the roads here, and that’s the true situation,” he said.
EFCC Chairman’s Remarks
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Secretary of the Commission, Muhammad HammaJoda, thanked President Tinubu, the FCT Minister, and the leadership of the National Assembly for their role in the construction of the access road to the permanent site of the EFCC Academy. He said that the major challenge to the development of the academy was the lack of an access road to the site, adding that with the construction of the infrastructure, the development of the academic will now proceed.
Vote of Thanks
The Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, appreciated President Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope Agenda, she said, has transformed the national capital and the nation as a whole. She also appreciated the FCT Minister for his dynamic leadership and tireless effort in bringing all projects to a conclusion while thanking the National Assembly, whose support and guidance, she stressed, cannot be overemphasized.
Project Overview
The Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, gave an overview of the project, stating that the Giri district was planned to be an institutional area with some institutions, such as the University of Abuja and the EFCC Academy already present. He added that the constructed roads connect the district to the airport Expressway at the interchange with Bill Clinton Drive, giving access to several developments in the district and have also improved security in the area as well as the socio-economic lives of the residents.
