Tinubu: We measure success by completed projects

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday used the commissioning of the Full Scope Development of Akinwumi Ajibola Street in Gaduwa to underscore his administration’s performance yardstick: completed projects that deliver visible benefits to citizens.

Represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu described the new roadway — which includes Important Local Streets (ILS) 16, 18 and 19 — as proof that the Renewed Hope Government gauges success by completed infrastructure rather than plans or memos.

“We are here to open a road, but more importantly, we are here to restore access. The Full Scope Development of Akinwumi Ajibola Street is now complete and open for use. In this government, we measure ourselves by finished work. This street is finished work,” he said.

The president recalled how Gaduwa residents once built homes without motorable access, suffering heavy disruption during rains.

“For years, families in Gaduwa built homes here in good faith, yet they had no motorable road to reach those homes. When the rains came, the place became impassable. That is not how a capital city treats its citizens. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we came to work, and today that promise is visible on these streets,” he added, linking the completed road directly to improved living conditions.

Tinubu singled out the FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike, for changing the prior approach to projects in Abuja — moving from mobilisation without progress to funded, supervised and completed works.

“When the Honourable Minister reviewed the files and saw the neglect, he did not issue another memo. He brought contractors back to site, gave clear targets and backed those targets with funding. You have changed the culture of delivery in the FCT. You ended the era of mobilisation without movement and abandoned inner roads. You are taking development from the city centre into the districts and satellite towns so that no resident is left behind. You have my confidence and my commendation,” he said.

The completed road is expected to improve mobility, shorten travel times, increase property values and provide safer access through drainage and streetlights.

Tinubu also urged residents to protect the infrastructure from vandalism and to keep drainage channels clear.

“We will not stop here. Across the FCT, from the city centre to the area councils, our task is to finish what matters, connect what was separated and ensure that public funds translate into public value,” he said, reiterating the administration’s emphasis on tangible outcomes.

Wike had earlier said the commissioning represented the 16th project in a 31-day inauguration programme marking the administration’s third year and reiterated the President’s directive that every FCT district must benefit from development.

“You instructed us that every district in the FCT must feel the impact of this administration. Today, I can confidently say that no district can claim it has been neglected. We have taken development to Jahi, Gwarimpa, Katampe, Guzape, Kwali and now Gaduwa,” he said, framing the series of completions as deliberate fulfilment of presidential priorities.

The minister credited faster delivery to a cooperative relationship between the Executive and the National Assembly, which ensured timely budget approvals and releases, and warned the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) against naming federally built roads without permission.

“If the federal government constructs the roads, permission must be obtained before naming them. Do not wait for us to build roads before putting names on them or using them to generate revenue,” Wike cautioned.

Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, called the commissioning another milestone in the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the project reflects a people-centred approach that raises mobility, economic activity and living standards.

She praised Tinubu, Wike, the National Assembly, contractors, consultants, traditional rulers, security agencies and Gaduwa residents for making the project possible and pledged that the FCT Administration would sustain the pace of delivering completed projects across the territory.