By Philip Yatai
President Bola Tinubu says his administration is laying the foundation for a new Nigeria that works for the common prosperity of all citizens.
Tinubu made the remarks on Tuesday while inaugurating the construction of the two service carriageways of the Southern Parkway from Arterial Road S20 (Oladipo Diya Way) to Ring Road II, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The Presiden
t, represented by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, noted that his administration’s reforms in the last three years were tough but necessary.
He, however, said, “The results are here – the roads, the bridges, the rails, and housing. We are laying the foundation for a new Nigeria that works – and works for all and for our common prosperity.
“Stay with us, support us, stand by the Renewed Hope Agenda. The best of Abuja and the best of Nigeria are still ahead of us”.
Tinubu said that in line with the Abuja Master Plan, the road, when fully developed, would enhance vehicular traffic circulation within the southern part of the city and provide vital inter-district connections across Phase I to Phase 4 of the FCT.
He explained that the main carriageway (Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way) was inaugurated earlier by his administration, adding that the service carriageways were not a luxury but would ease access.
The President noted that the residents of Duste, Gudu, Gaduwa, Duboyi, and a housing estate in Phase II face heavy vehicular congestion daily in S2 (Abdulsalami Abubakar Way) and S20, especially at peak periods.
He said that when the service carriageways are completed, the pain will reduce, adding that traffic will then flow freely, while travel time will drop, just as businesses will be able to save money, and families will spend less time.
“That is the dividend of democracy, and that is the renewed hope that you can feel and you can touch every day.
“This inauguration is part of the broader infrastructure revolution we promised Nigeria. In the last three years, we have refused to accept excuses; we choose actions.
“From the Arterial Road N20, now Prof. Wole Soyinka Way, to N16 Interchange, linking Jahi and Gwarinpa, to the roads in Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Mabushi, the FCT is transforming before our eyes,” he said.
He commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, saying, “You have earned your name, ‘Mr Project’.
“Most people thought that it was only in Rivers, but you’ve shown clearly that it’s your DNA to do projects always.
“Through your action, and not just talk alone, you’ve shown that truly, you are Mr Project. Since you assumed office, you have awakened the abandoned projects, you’ve set clear targets, and you’ve delivered them in record time”.
In his remarks, Wike said that the newly awarded contract would be affected by political activities towards the 2027 general elections.
He assured that, politics or not, the FCT Administration would continue to work with a view to changing the landscape of the capital city as directed by Mr President.
He added that the project will be completed and inaugurated in January 2027, assuring the contractor that the FCTA will meet its financial obligations.
“I want this job to be inaugurated before we go for the general elections in 2027.
The minister warned land grabbers who have begun development on the road corridor to stop and directed the acting Director, Development Control, to pull all illegal development on the corridor down.
“We have found out that each time we want to carry out construction, people who have not been genuinely allocated land will go in, forge documents, and begin to develop. It will not work” he said.
He directed the director to liaise with the Director of Land to ensure that those who were not given land there and had begun construction were doing so in vain.
“We will bring it,” Wike said.
Earlier, Mr Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, explained that the Southern Parkway is one of the major roads of the Southern Development Corridor of the city.
According to Dauda, the road begins from the Inner Southern Expressway (Goodluck Jonathan Expressway) in Phase I of the city from the Central Area, and terminates at the same Inner Southern Expressway in Phase 4 in the Southern Corridor of the city.
Tinubu explained that the Southern Parkway was a major road of the southern development corridor, which begins from the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) in Phase I and terminates at ISEX in Phase 4 in the south. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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