President Bola Tinubu on Friday said Abuja was changing for the better under the leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, declaring that the nation’s capital was witnessing visible transformation 50 years after it was created.
The President said the ongoing infrastructure drive across the Federal Capital Territory had demonstrated that government could deliver tangible results when backed by vision and determination.
Tinubu spoke at a special dinner organised to celebrate the successful inauguration of 31 projects across the FCT in 28 days.
Represented by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the President thanked Wike and the FCT Administration for what he described as their sacrifices in ensuring that the nation’s capital worked for all Nigerians.
“He has shown that leadership is not measured by how loudly one announces plans, but how clearly the people can see the results of the plans,” the President said.
Tinubu described Abuja as a city that belongs to every Nigerian, adding that ongoing infrastructure projects were improving connectivity and creating new opportunities for residents.
“Every new road done here shortens somebody’s journey, every new bridge connects more than communities; it connects friendship, it connects love, it connects unity, and also connects opportunities for Nigerians.
“Every completed project quietly tells Nigerians that the government can still work when vision meets determination.”
Speaking at the event, Wike attributed the administration’s growing list of completed projects to reforms introduced by Tinubu, particularly the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission and the removal of the FCT from the Treasury Single Account, TSA.
According to him, the reforms boosted workers’ morale and improved the administration’s ability to finance critical infrastructure.
“When I came on board in August 2023, the civil servants were completely demoralised. But Mr President approved the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, giving workers the opportunity to rise to the positions of Permanent Secretary and Head of Service. That motivated them to give their best.”
The minister said the FCT Administration completed nine projects during Tinubu’s first year in office, 19 in the second year and 31 projects in the third year.
He added that about 70 percent of the projects commissioned by the administration were inherited and abandoned by previous governments.
“Comparatively, what Tinubu has done and will continue to do in the FCT is unprecedented. Most of the projects we completed were not initiated by the current administration and 70 percent of them were abandoned projects.
“The only project that was not completed is the Inner Southern Expressway,” Wike said.
Former FCT Minister Aliyu Modibbo, who represented Vice President Kashim Shettima at the dinner, described Wike as one of the territory’s best-performing ministers and expressed hope that he would continue beyond the current tenure to consolidate on the ongoing transformation.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, represented by House Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere, also commended the minister, saying Abuja had witnessed unprecedented development under his stewardship.
