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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday said decades of hardship, insecurity, and economic losses associated with the Kuje-Gwagwalada road had come to an end with the completion of Phase I of the Kuje-Gwagwalada Dual Carriageway in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Tinubu made this known during the commissioning of the project in Kuje, recalling that the road had for years remained a major challenge to residents, traders, farmers, and commuters, leading to loss of lives, destruction of goods, prolonged travel time, and security concerns along the corridor.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President said the newly completed 7-kilometre dual carriageway marked a turning point for communities that had long been cut off by poor road infrastructure and insecurity.
“But that story ends today,” Tinubu said at the commissioning ceremony in Kuje.
According to the President, the road project is more than a transportation facility, describing it as a strategic investment in security, commerce, and social well-being.
“This 7-kilometre dual carriageway with solar-powered streetlights, pedestrian walkways, and proper drainage is more than a road. It is security. It is commerce. It is dignity.
“It is the economic corridor linking Abuja to three area councils and an opening and exit route to Southern Nigeria. With the construction of this road, we have unlocked the agricultural potential of this area, opened new residential layouts, and made it safer for mothers, students, and workers to move at any hour,” he said.
Tinubu noted that the project aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration, which seeks to extend development beyond urban centres to underserved communities.
“My people of Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kwali, and all the satellite towns, hear me clearly: this government sees you. You are not forgotten.
“For too long, Abuja’s development stopped at the city centre. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, every area council matters. Every community counts. We will continue to bring roads, water, schools, and hospitals closer to the people,” he added.
The President also urged residents to protect public infrastructure and support government efforts through responsible citizenship.
“Do not build on the median. Do not vandalise the solar lights. Pay your taxes and ground rents. When government works, and citizens cooperate, development moves faster,” he said.
Tinubu reserved special commendation for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, whom he credited with driving infrastructure development to the grassroots.
“I gave you an instruction when I appointed you: make Abuja work for all Nigerians, not just for those in Maitama and Asokoro.
“You have taken Renewed Hope to the grassroots. From judicial quarters in Katampe to roads in Kuje and Gwagwalada, you are proving that development must not be selective. You heard the cries of satellite communities and responded. That is leadership,” he said.
Earlier, Wike said the project was conceived following extensive consultations with traditional rulers, community leaders, women, and youth groups across the six area councils shortly after the administration assumed office in 2023.
He explained that residents consistently identified poor road infrastructure as a major challenge affecting security, agriculture, and economic activities in the area.
According to him, the administration subsequently secured approval from the Federal Executive Council for the construction of the road after assessing its strategic importance.
“We came here and saw that the road was in a terrible condition. It took us almost two hours to travel from Gwagwalada to Kuje. We realised that farmers had difficulties moving their produce to markets and that economic activities were being hampered.
“Today, the people can see that the Renewed Hope Agenda is not a slogan but a reality,” Wike said.
He disclosed that the project, awarded to Gilmor Engineering Nigeria Limited in February 2025, was divided into two phases, with the second phase expected to be completed by December 2026.
Also speaking, Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the road as a visible demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians through strategic infrastructure investments.
She praised Wike’s leadership and commitment to delivering critical projects across the territory, noting that the pace of development in the FCT had become a reference point for effective governance.
In his project overview, Coordinator of the Satellite Towns Development Department, Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, said the completed phase comprises seven kilometres of dual carriageway, solar-powered streetlights, drainage infrastructure, and a three-span bridge.
He noted that the project would improve access to farming communities, reduce travel time, stimulate economic activities, and strengthen connectivity between Kuje, Gwagwalada, and neighbouring communities.
The commissioning formed part of activities marking the ongoing inauguration of infrastructure projects executed under the Tinubu administration in the Federal Capital Territory.
