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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday declared that no election would derail the ongoing transformation of Abuja, vowing that the nation’s capital would wear a completely new look before the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first tenure in May 2027.
The minister also issued a fresh threat to land grabbers and developers occupying lands without valid allocations, warning that all illegal structures along the Southern Parkway corridor would be demolished.
Wike spoke during the flag-off of the construction of the Southern Parkway Service Carriageways in Gaduwa District, Abuja, an event performed by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, on behalf of President Tinubu.
Reacting to concerns that the approaching 2027 elections could slow down ongoing projects in the FCT, Wike dismissed the fears, insisting that the administration would continue delivering infrastructure regardless of political activities.
“Today is our 10th day of commissioning projects, and people have been asking whether projects will now be abandoned because elections are coming. We said no. Elections or no elections, we must continue doing what Mr. President directed us to do in order to change the landscape of the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
The minister expressed confidence that Abuja would witness unprecedented transformation before the end of Tinubu’s first term.
“Let me say clearly, by the time Mr. President finishes his first tenure on May 29, 2027, before he is sworn in for a second tenure, the landscape of Abuja would have entirely changed, to the glory of God,” he declared.
Wike revealed that he personally called the Deputy Managing Director of CGC Nigeria Limited close to midnight on Monday to obtain assurances on the project’s completion timeline.
According to him, the contractor pledged to work round the clock to deliver the road project on schedule if the FCT Administration met its financial commitments.
“Last night around midnight, I called the Deputy Managing Director of CGC and asked him when the project would be completed. After speaking with his team, he assured me they would work day and night to finish the job if we perform our own obligation.
“Today, I assure CGC and all its workers that we will not fail in our responsibility of paying for the work done. We have confidence in you because this is not the first time you are handling difficult projects and delivering successfully,” he said.
The minister further disclosed that he wanted the Southern Parkway project completed and commissioned before election activities commence in January 2027.
“I want this road commissioned before we go for election in January 2027. Here in Abuja, it is possible. We will call the APC Chairman back again to represent Mr. President and commission this road,” he added.
Turning his attention to illegal developments across the FCT, Wike warned that the administration would no longer tolerate encroachment on government land.
He directed the Department of Development Control and the Department of Lands to immediately identify and remove illegal structures erected within the project corridor.
“All these land grabbers who started developing land that was 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,” he warned.
The minister alleged that some individuals often rush to infrastructure corridors with forged documents whenever government begins major projects.
“We have discovered that whenever we want to execute projects, people who were not genuinely allocated land move in and begin construction with forged documents. It will not work,” he said.
Wike ordered the Acting Director of Development Control to work closely with the Director of Lands to ensure strict enforcement against illegal developments.
“Anybody building on land that was not legally allocated should stop. It is in vain. We will bring those structures down,” he declared.
The Southern Parkway Service Carriageways project is expected to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and boost development across Gaduwa, Gudu, Durumi and other districts within Abuja’s rapidly expanding Southern Development Corridor.
The event attracted top government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, political stakeholders and representatives of CGC Nigeria Limited.
