Tinubu begins commissioning of major roads across Abuja

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, said President Bola Tinubu would begin a multi-day commissioning of major infrastructure projects across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), today.

He told reporters during a site verification tour that the president would kick off the programme with the inauguration of stage two of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) main carriageways, which he said is 100 percent complete.

“Tomorrow (today), the President will start the commissioning of the OSEX road, which was the first place we visited this morning,” the minister said, describing the quick completion of the project and other arterial corridors as a rapid engineering turnaround.

According to the minister, the commissioning schedule forms part of the activities to mark President Tinubu’s third year in office. The programme will continue tomorrow, June 10, with the commissioning of Arterial Road N5 in Life Camp and on Thursday with the dualised Highway 105 (Airport–Kuje carriageway).

“These three projects are 100 percent complete and ready for commissioning. What is important to us is that we have been able to achieve the timeline and I commend the various contractors that are involved for keeping to their promises,” he said.

He also said the president would visit satellite towns to inaugurate projects in the FCT’s Area Councils, a move the minister described as evidence of the administration’s effort to extend development to rural communities. He declined to list specific targets for those visits, saying the details remain confidential.

“The credit must go to Mr. President, who has given that directive and support for us to go this far,” he told journalists. “One of the things about leadership is the will to continue with projects that may not have been initiated by you, but you continue and complete those projects.”

On the status of newly completed FCT bus terminals that have not yet opened for commercial use, he asked residents for patience, explaining that opening the facilities requires a formal procurement process and a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) lease approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

“For you to give a private individual to run a government facility, it has to pass through a procurement process,” he said.

“The government process is not easy; bureaucracy is involved and once you have achieved that, be patient. The person going to manage the facility has pleaded with us that he is assembling the buses and the taxis to ensure that it takes off smoothly.”