…commissions Collector Road C01 in FCT
By Sanni Abdullahi
ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the ongoing infrastructure upgrade in the Federal Capital Territory as a template for the transformation his administration is driving across Nigeria, saying the modernisation of Abuja reflects the broader promise of “Renewed Hope” to citizens nationwide.
The President spoke on Wednesday through Vice President Kashim Shettima during the commissioning of the newly constructed Collector Road C01 and its accompanying bridge in the Institution and Research District of the FCT. The event marked Day 21 of a series of project commissioning in the nation’s capital.
“When you build roads, you open up districts. When you open up districts, you invite investment. And when investment comes, Nigeria grows,” Tinubu said, describing infrastructure as “the greatest enabler of economic prosperity.”
He said the transformation witnessed in Abuja is not isolated, but a “microcosm of the transformation we are bringing to the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria.” According to him, the administration is replicating similar road, bridge, and urban renewal projects across states to ensure equitable development.
“We promised Renewed Hope. And today, as we stand on this newly constructed Collector Road C01, complete with its bridge, we are not just looking at the physical road; we are looking at a promise kept,” the President stated.
Tinubu recalled that shortly after assuming office he made a commitment to Nigerians not to allow governance to become “a series of abandoned dreams and half-hearted efforts.” He said the new road project is proof of that pledge in action, noting that it generated hundreds of direct and indirect jobs for youth during construction.
“This is the macroeconomy at work at the grassroots level,” he added.
The President traced the origin of the project to complaints raised by the Body of Benchers during last year’s Nigeria Law School Call to Bar ceremony over traffic gridlock and poor access to legal institutions in the area.
“I listened and called the FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, to action,” Tinubu recounted. “I told him, ‘Look, we cannot have the legal luminaries of our nation navigating potholes to train our future advocates. We cannot have students arriving late to lectures because of a lack of a simple bridge.’ We did not just talk about it. We approved it under emergency procurement. And today, just months later, here we are.”
He said the lack of access had been “a daily headache for students, lecturers, and residents alike,” and expressed satisfaction that the administration has now restored ease of movement and enhanced safety in the district.
“Beyond that, we are creating an environment where academia and professional institutions can thrive without the baggage of structural neglect,” he said, while commending Wike for delivering the project promptly. “He has proven once again that when he is given a job, he does not sleep until it is done.”
In his remarks, the FCT Minister thanked the President and Vice President for attending the commissioning and assured residents that the Tinubu administration remains committed to ensuring every district in the FCT receives government attention. Wike also expressed appreciation for the resources made available to the FCT and for the decision to remove the FCTA from the Treasury Single Account, which he said has improved project delivery.
Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, speaking on behalf of the territory’s management and residents, thanked President Tinubu for his “unwavering and massive support” which she said has led to “unprecedented execution of projects across the FCT.” She pledged the cooperation of residents in protecting government facilities and sustaining people-oriented programmes.
Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, said Collector Road C01 is critical to opening up the area designated for research and educational institutions under the FCT master plan.
He explained that the project includes a link bridge, underground drainage system, and solar street lights, and will provide a vital alternative route to research institutions and surrounding communities.
With the commissioning, the Tinubu administration says it is signaling that infrastructure will remain central to its economic agenda, with Abuja serving as both beneficiary and model for development efforts in other cities, satellite towns, and rural communities across the country.
