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Toyin Adebayo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday charged residents and business owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to pay their taxes, land fees and ground rents promptly, declaring that citizens’ compliance is critical to sustaining infrastructure development across the nation’s capital.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning of the Dape District Section of Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III, Tinubu said revenue generated from residents’ obligations would enable the FCT Administration to build more roads and other critical infrastructure.
“Pay your taxes. Clear your land fees and ground rents. Your compliance gives the FCT Administration the strength to build more roads like this one,” the President said.
Tinubu also showered praise on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing him as the administration’s “Engine of Execution” for driving the rapid delivery of infrastructure projects in Abuja.
“Minister Wike, you and your team have shown what happens when political will meets accountability. We fund projects to see results, not to listen to grammar.
“And certainly not under the watch of the ‘Engine of Execution’ himself, the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike,” he said.
The President noted that the completion of the road fulfilled a promise made to residents during the commissioning of the Gwarinpa I District section of the project in June 2025.
According to him, unlike many public projects that linger for years without completion, the N5 road project was conceived, funded and delivered within the stipulated timeline.
“Let us be clear about this: we did not inherit this section from decades past. We conceived it, we funded it, and we delivered it.
“In the past, projects like this became permanent budget lines — ten, fifteen years of excuses. Not under this administration,” he stated.
Tinubu said the road would eliminate traffic bottlenecks around Life Camp Junction and improve connectivity among Dape, Karmo, Gwarinpa, Kado, Idu and Mbora districts, while opening up easier access to the Idu Industrial District.
He added that the project would reduce logistics costs, attract investments and create jobs for residents.
Earlier, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike said the commissioning marked the second event in a 31-day programme of project inaugurations lined up to celebrate Tinubu’s third year in office.
The minister recalled that the FCT Administration commissioned projects for nine days during the President’s first anniversary and 19 days during the second anniversary, describing the current 31-day exercise as evidence of accelerated development in the territory.
“To the glory of God, in this third year, we are touching 31 days of commissioning of projects,” Wike said.
He attributed the transformation of Abuja to Tinubu’s leadership, stressing that development was no longer restricted to the city centre but had spread to satellite towns.
“For the first time, development has been taken to the satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory. This is unprecedented,” he said.
The minister argued that the impact of governance could now be seen physically through roads and other infrastructure projects across the FCT.
“When you ask people what is government, what is governance, they can point and say, ‘See government.’ See roads, see infrastructure. That is governance,” he said.
Wike also defended the administration’s compensation process for affected property owners along the road corridor, insisting that all legitimate claims had been settled.
“We paid. If your property was demolished and you were not paid, come forward and say so. I challenge anybody. It is not correct,” he stated.
The minister dismissed protests by some individuals at the event, insisting that no amount of political opposition could overshadow the visible achievements of the administration.
In her remarks, the Minister of State for FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as another milestone under the Renewed Hope Agenda and commended Wike for his commitment to transforming the capital city through massive infrastructure development.
She expressed confidence that the newly completed road would enhance transportation, stimulate economic activities and improve the quality of life of residents in the affected communities.
