President Bola Tinubu has said the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is changing for the better under the leadership of Nyesom Wike as its minister, 50 years after its creation.
Tinubu made the remark in Abuja on Friday night during a special thank-you dinner to celebrate the successful inauguration of 31 projects across the FCT in 28 days.
Represented by Senate President Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the President commended Wike and his team for their sacrifices to ensure the nation’s capital works for everyone.
He further commended the minister for demonstrating that “leadership is not measured by how loudly one announces plans, but by how clearly the people can see the results.”
Tinubu said the FCT belongs to every Nigerian, describing it as a city where unity resides, diversity meets, and the hope of every citizen finds a common address.
“Every new road built here shortens somebody’s journey. Every new bridge connects more than communities — it connects friendship, love, unity, and opportunities for Nigerians.
“Every completed project quietly tells Nigerians that government can still work when vision meets determination,” he said.
Mr. Aliyu Modibbo, a former FCT minister and current Special Adviser to the President on General Duties in the Office of the Vice President, said Wike was among the best-performing ministers the territory had ever had.
Modibbo, who represented Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event, expressed optimism that Wike would return as FCT minister in Tinubu’s second term, saying, “Four years is not enough to complete what you have started.”
In his remarks, Wike said that when he assumed office as FCT minister in August 2023, he met depressed civil servants with little motivation to drive Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said he and the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, turned things around by establishing the FCT Civil Service Commission.
According to him, the commission allows civil servants to rise to the position of Permanent Secretary and Head of Civil Service.
Wike said Tinubu gave approval for the move to motivate the workers so they could give their best for the development of the FCT.
The minister noted that with motivated workers, nine projects were inaugurated in the first year of Tinubu’s administration, 19 in the second year, and 31 in the third year.
He said the removal of the FCT from the Treasury Single Account also contributed to the achievement by enabling the administration to access funds from commercial banks for project execution.
Wike commended contractors for the quality and timely delivery of projects across the territory and promised to continue working with them to deliver the best for residents.
“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 per cent of them were abandoned projects.
“The only project that was not completed is the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX),” Wike said.
Also speaking, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas described Wike as “the best performing minister of the FCT so far” and commended him for transforming the landscape of the FCT.
Abbas, represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the nation’s capital had undergone monumental and unprecedented transformation under Wike’s stewardship.
Speaking on behalf of the contractors, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Dr. Peer Lubasch, said some contractors had attended more ribbon-cutting ceremonies in the past few days than in previous years.
Lubasch commended Tinubu for his commitment to infrastructure, economic growth, and national development.
He also applauded Wike for the vision, planning, and sustained investment that is transforming Abuja into Africa’s finest purpose-built capital.
“We are proud that we have been an integral part of Abuja’s story from its formative years to the present day,” he said.
