By Sarah NEGEDU
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, commissioned the Collector Road C01 and bridge linking the Body of Benchers, Nile University and Baze University in Abuja, saying the project will improve connectivity and ease movement within the Institution and Research District.
The project is expected to strengthen access to the district while linking it to the wider Abuja road network through the ongoing extension of the corridor towards RR III, while reducing travel time and improving connectivity between academic institutions, residential communities and commercial areas.
Tinubu, while speaking at the commissioning of the project said, the road fulfilled the administration’s commitment to delivering infrastructure that directly impacts the lives of Nigerians.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu explained that the project was approved under emergency procurement after the Body of Benchers raised concerns over traffic congestion and poor access to the area during a Nigerian Law School Call to Bar ceremony last year.
“We did not just talk about it. We approved it under emergency procurement. And today, just months later, here we are!”
He said the project had restored ease of movement, enhanced safety and created an environment where academic and professional institutions could thrive without the burden of poor infrastructure.
The president added that the road had already generated hundreds of direct and indirect jobs during construction, noting that investments in infrastructure remain critical to economic growth.
“When you build roads, you open up districts. When you open up districts, you invite investment. And when investment comes, Nigeria grows,” he said.
Tinubu commended the FCT Minister for driving the ongoing infrastructure renewal across the nation’s capital, describing the ongoing commissioning of projects as evidence that the administration was focused on delivering tangible results.
In his remarks, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said the FCT Administration remained committed to extending infrastructure to every district of the Federal Capital Territory, including satellite towns, in line with the administration’s development agenda.
He said the newly commissioned road was another step towards improving infrastructure within the capital city, noting that similar projects had been completed across several districts.
The minister also attributed the ongoing pace of infrastructure delivery in the FCT to improved funding following the administration’s removal from the Treasury Single Account, TSA.
“We thank you for the resources made available by removing us from the TSA. And that’s why today we are having so many projects to be commissioned,” he said.
He thanked Tinubu for his continued support to the FCT Administration, saying the availability of resources had enabled the execution of critical infrastructure projects across Abuja.
