By Festus Fifen

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday says infrastructure development is a necessity and not luxury.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of arterial roads and a major interchange linking Maitama and Gishiri districts in Abuja, the President said this project represents more than just a stretch of roads.

” It affirms our commitment to a ban transformation. Under our renewed hope agenda, since assuming office in May 23rd

According to the President, N16 which connects Shehu shagari way from the ring road, Namidi Azikiwe to arterial road N20 Wole Soyinka way, including an interchange and other roads in Kantampe district is a promise made and a promise kept.

” This administration has been guided by a philosophy anchored on reform and regeneration. Today, we’ve seen tangible proof of that philosophy in action. The corridor was underdeveloped for years, despite the central role in the Abuja master plan. Today, that narrative has changed.

” What was once missing as a link is now a modern, functional and durable infrastructure, the artery fully realized through the leadership of the FCT administration under the Honorable Minister barr. wike, this road will ease traffic congestion around Central Abuja and improved connectivity to developing districts such as Katampe, Jahi and Mabushi, it will stimulate housing and business growth while serving as a foundation for future city integration.

” Infrastructure is not a luxury. it is a necessity. it is the bedrock of national competitiveness, growth, social integration and economic opportunity. We recognize that our nation’s development is linked to the quality of infrastructure connecting people, cities and industries. There’s no way industrialization will flourish without good roads. We are investing in roads, manpower, health care, education and digital infrastructure. It is only through this coordinated and integrated development that we can unlock Nigeria’s full potential. I promise you, we will. ”

The government has played its part. we did not worry about protest, and as I commissioned this road N16 to the glory of God Almighty, I reaffirmed our commitment that we will continue to build. We will continue to serve the people, no matter how much the naysayers pursue politics.

” We have somebody in Nyesom Wike. He’s not a member of our party, not yet. But the day he changes his mind and registers with the progressives, we will welcome him because we will join him in singing ‘as e dey sweet us, e dey pain dem’.”

On his part, the FCT Minister Nyesome Wike during his opening remarks said the road being commissioned was awarded by the current administration adding that It is not one of those projects that were inherited from previous administrations.

While thanking the president for honouring the invitation to commission the projects lined up for his second year anniversary, Wike said ” having worked with you for a few years, I’ve seen how passionate you are about violation of contracts and abandonment of contracts. This job was awarded by the Federal Executive Council last year September, and we flagged off this project in October.

” I told the contractors, listen, I don’t want to hear complaints. Whatever it will take you to do your job, do it. If I pay you under the rainy season, you must work under the rainy season, If I pay you in the dry season, you must work in the dry season. I don’t want to hear that, oh, the rain was too much. Return the money so that we can keep it. After the rain, we can pay you. You can’t keep our money when we have paid you, then you say it is raining, No. Send our money back.”

Mr. President by the time you do your third year in office next year, you will see that virtually all the contracts you awarded under you as the president, as the chairman of the Federal Executive Council, will all have finished them to the glory of God and no contractor will be left.

” So I’m happy. This road again leads to all the judges’ quarters, the court of appeal, the Federal High Court, and the Federal Capital Territory High Court. By the grace of God, I don’t know the particular day where that will be commissioned. But I know that they have finished it and the judges’ quarters are almost ready. ”

So, Mr. President, we want to thank you that we are part of this, what is going on, the revolution that’s going on. Your good work has killed the coalition. I was thinking that truly, there would be a coalition. So I told my people, make sure that every national television must hook in. So when they can see what’s happening every day.”