Abuja’s landscape will change completely before end of Tinubu’s first term –  Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday declared that the landscape of Abuja would be completely transformed before the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first term in office, insisting that ongoing infrastructure projects would not be abandoned because of the approaching election season.

Wike spoke at the official flag-off of the construction of the Southern Parkway service carriageways in Gaduwa District, Abuja, where he reaffirmed the commitment of the FCT Administration to sustaining the ongoing infrastructure revolution across the nation’s capital.

The project was flagged off by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman,  Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.

“Let me say clearly, by the time Mr. President finishes his first tenure on May 29, 2027, before he is sworn in as President for a second tenure, the landscape of Abuja would have entirely changed, to the glory of God,” the minister said.

Addressing concerns that the administration might slow down project execution ahead of the 2027 elections, Wike dismissed such fears, stressing that development of the FCT would continue unabated.

“Today is our 10th day of commissioning projects, but Today was specifically selected because so many people have been asking questions: ‘Are you saying that after commissioning all these projects, now that we are going into elections, projects will be abandoned?’ We said no. Elections or no elections, we must continue to do that which Mr. President has directed to make sure that we change the landscape of the Federal Capital Territory,” he stated.

The minister disclosed that he had personally contacted the management of CGC Nigeria Limited late Monday night to ascertain the timeline for completing the Southern Parkway project.

According to him, the contractor assured him of its readiness to work round the clock to deliver the project within schedule, provided the FCT Administration fulfills its financial obligations.

“Last night, around midnight, I called the Deputy Managing Director of CGC and asked when this project would be completed. After consulting his team, he assured me they would work day and night to complete it if we perform our own obligation.

“Today, June 23, 2026, I assure the management and workers of CGC that we will not fail in our obligation of paying for the work done. This is not the first time we are giving you challenging jobs and you have performed excellently,” Wike said.

The minister expressed confidence that the project would be completed and commissioned before the January 2027 elections. 

“I want this road commissioned before we go for election in January 2027. Here in Abuja, it is possible. We shall call the APC Chairman back to represent Mr. President and commission this project because it is very important to us,” he added.

The minister further vowed to intensify the crackdown on land grabbers and individuals developing lands without valid allocations, describing the trend as a major threat to the Abuja Master Plan.

“All these land grabbers who have started developing lands that were not allocated to them should know that those structures will go down. Heaven will not fall. Heaven will be at peace when things are done properly.

“We have discovered that whenever government wants to execute projects, some people rush to such locations with forged documents and begin illegal developments. It will not work,” he warned.

Wike directed the Development Control Department and the Department of Lands to identify and remove all illegal structures along the project corridor.

“Tell the Acting Director of Development Control to liaise with the Director of Lands and ensure that anybody who has started building on land not legally allocated should stop. It is in vain. We will bring such structures down,” he declared.

The Southern Parkway service carriageways project is expected to improve connectivity within Abuja’s Southern Development Corridor, reduce traffic congestion and support the rapid expansion of residential and commercial districts within the Federal Capital Territory.

The event was attended by senior government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, political stakeholders and representatives of the contracting firm, CGC Nigeria Limited.