PRESIDENT TINUBU UNVEILS REMODELED ABUJA CITY GATE

Night view of the Remodelled Abuja City Gate commissioned on Thursday July 9, 2026

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU UNVEILS REMODELED ABUJA CITY GATE

…SAYS IT CAN COMPETE WITH THE BEST IN THE WORLD

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has described the remodeled Abuja city gate as a powerful symbol of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and a bold leap forward in the modernization of the nation’s urban landscape.

President Tinubu stated this while officially unveiling the revitalized Abuja City Gate, a landmark transformation that elevates Nigeria’s capital to the ranks of the world’s most prestigious cities.

Represented by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the President noted that the newly remodeled City Gate is far more than a mere transit point stressing that the sophisticated architectural masterpiece has been designed to rival the most iconic gateways and public monuments found in leading global capitals.

He pointed out that the national monument, featuring an elegant design and integrated water fountains that symbolize the 36 states and the FCT has provided a dignified, grand welcome to Nigeria’s diplomatic and administrative heart.

The President added that the caliber of the project ensures that the gateway can proudly stand side by side with globally recognized landmarks, serving as a beacon of unity, diversity, and the shared aspirations of all Nigerians.

“This newly remodeled Abuja city gate, with its beautiful water fountain representing the 36 states and the FCT, tells every visitor and Nigerians arriving from the airport that they have entered a city built on unity, diversity, and shared aspirations,” President Tinubu stated and commmended the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for his relentless dedication to urban renewal.

"When you share a vision with a man of action, you see results. Minister Wike, you have proven once again to be a true driver of the Renewed Hope agenda," the President said.

President Tinubu called on Abuja residents to take ownership of the facility, stressing that the maintenance of public infrastructure is a shared responsibility.

Speaking on the initiative, the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike revealed that the project was born out of a direct challenge from the First Lady. He disclosed that the project, which was awarded in November last year, was completed in record time through the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

"The First Lady challenged us to look at the gate and ensure it befits a nation’s capital. She didn't seek personal gain; she sought to fill a gap in our national aesthetics. Today, thanks to the President's backing and the efficiency of the FCDA and Julius Berger, we have a world-class monument," the Minister remarked.

Barr. Wike also announced that the site features car parks, food courts  and recreational facilities, and that arrangements are underway for professional maintenance to ensure its longevity.

FCT MINISTER ATTRIBUTES UNPRECEDENTED INFRASTRUCTURAL BOOM TO FCTA’s EXIT FROM TSA

FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike fielding questions from journalists during his monthly media parley in Abuja on Thursday

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

FCT MINISTER ATTRIBUTES UNPRECEDENTED INFRASTRUCTURAL BOOM TO FCTA’s EXIT FROM TSA

…SAYS FCT’S REVENUE BASE HAS JUMPED FROM N9 BILLION TO N40 BILLION

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has credited the administration's strategic exit from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as the primary catalyst driving the ongoing infrastructural renaissance in the nation's capital.

Speaking during his media parley on Thursday, July 9, 2026, the Minister said this bold fiscal reform, swiftly approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has fundamentally transformed the FCTA’s financial capacity, turning Abuja into a massive construction hub that is delivering rapid, community-driven development across the city centre and FCT Area Councils.

Noting that the strict limitations of the TSA previously choked the territory's ability to fund large-scale projectsthe Minister said the policy shift has allowed the administration to successfully utilized its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as collateral to secure commercial funding for rapid project execution. 

"Mr. President sees governance as a business, and that is why he pulled us out of the TSA for the development of the FCT. When we had funds with the CBN, we had no access to borrow from commercial banks. That was a major impediment for us. Now, I can go to commercial banks to borrow money for infrastructure projects, using our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as collateral. Now the jobs are going on," the Minister stated.

Barr. Wike further disclosed that the newfound financial autonomy and the strict institutional blocks on frivolous spending and leakages has yielded immediate and staggering economic results with the administration’s revenue base multiplying exponentially from N9 billion in 2023 to approximate N40 billion in 2026.

"When we came on board, our IGR was a mere N9 billion a month. As I speak to you today, our IGR is about N40 billion. These are the benefits of exiting the TSA", the Minister noted, adding that the administration has also radically restructured the territory's budget and flipped its spending ratio from 65 percent recurrent expenditure to a robust 75 percent capital expenditure.

Noting that this massive injection of capital is directly responsible for the spectacular 31-day commissioning calendar currently underway, the Minister also stressed that the reliable cash flow has allowed the FCTA to clear backlogs owed to competent local contractors and foreign contractors, ensuring that both old and new projects are completed on schedule.

He also explained that the administration has strongly prioritized technical capacity and competence, rather than focusing solely on local content in the selection of both local and foreign contractors handling FCTA projects.

Addressing questions on whether the focus of the FCT administration on road networks, the Minister clarified that while road infrastructure remains foundational to establishing hospitals, schools, and markets, development is evenly spread across critical sectors.

He said the FCT Administration has funded critical multi-sector interventions, including the recent commissioning of the Karu Water Scheme by Vice President, Kashim Shetima, the upcoming Bwari Water Scheme, the renovation of over 120 schools, and the re-awarding of long-abandoned hospital projects in Gwagwalada and Gwarimpa.

With unprecedented investments being poured into the city's infrastructure, the Minister issued a stern warning that the FCTA will fiercely protect these new assets from abuse. He declared a zero-tolerance policy for indiscipline and announced the deployment of a task force to clear hoodlums and illegal roadside markets. "Government cannot build roads today, and the next day it’s a market, and you try to justify it that they are looking for how to survive. We will not allow that", he declared.

Additionally, the Minister disclosed that the FCTA has reclaimed parks and gardens that violated land use laws by converting green areas into commercial hotels and residential buildings, adding that a strict "develop-or-lose" policy has also been implemented in the mass housing sector to curb land speculation and the unauthorized sale of unallocated land.

 “We have taken back all our parks and gardens. If you want to have it, come and apply and we give you the conditions. Anybody who says he wants parks and garden must apply appropriately and you will have ministerial approval, not where the director of parks and garden will enter into agreement with you and government does not know”, the Minister explained.  

 Barr. Wike who also addressed the recent political allegations connecting the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to a fictitious government agency, described the claims as "rubbish" and "madness."

Barr Wike, stated that from his knowledge of the personality of Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, it was very unlikely that he was involved in it. He further revealed that the easiest way to embarrass any government was to target the Chief of Staff.

The Burden of Fame and the Search for Love

Summer Robert

This story titled “Woman with 'UK's biggest boobs' reveals how it has made dating a nightmare” was published earlier today on Linda Ikeji’s blog. We picked it up for an editorial. But first, here are the main points of the story:

Summer Robert’s condition: She has macromastia, a rare condition that causes her breasts to keep growing, leading to her having what’s described as the UK’s largest breasts (size 30R). 

Career vs. personal life: Her body has brought her fame and financial success, but it has made dating extremely difficult. 

Dating app experiences: Conversations often focus immediately on her chest, with men making objectifying or sexual comments instead of showing genuine interest in her personality or life.  

In-person encounters: Dates tend to be over-sexualized, with men treating meetings as a direct path to sex rather than romance. She rarely experiences traditional dating gestures like being “wined and dined.”

Examples of frustration: She recalls men making explicit remarks or suggesting filming adult content right after meeting, which she finds disappointing and exhausting.  

Pattern of fetishization: Many men who pursue her appear to already follow or fixate on women with large breasts, making her feel reduced to a fetish rather than valued as a person.

Her desire: Despite her public image and career, she says she wants a traditional, loving relationship, marriage, and family. 

Editorial: The Burden of Fame and the Search for Love 

Summer Robert, known for having what is described as the UK’s largest breasts due to macromastia, has built a career and public persona around her unusual condition. Yet behind the notoriety and financial success lies a deeply personal struggle: the inability to find genuine romance.  

PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMISSIONS CRUCIAL ROAD AND BRIDGE IN ABUJA’S INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT

L-R Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, Vice President Kashim Shettima, FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, Chairman, Senate Committee of Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, Senator Olaka Nwogu and APC National Vice President South South, Chief Victor Gaidom during the commissioning of Collector Road CO1 linking the Body of Benchers, Nile and Baze Universities in the Institution and Research District, Abuja on Wednesday

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMISSIONS CRUCIAL ROAD AND BRIDGE IN ABUJA’S INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT

…SAYS IT IS PROMISE KEPT

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has officially commissioned Collector Road C01 and its accompanying bridge in the Institution and Research District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, President Tinubu disclosed that the newly completed infrastructure, directly connecting prominent national and academic institutions, including the Body of Benchers, Nile University, and Baze University will rapidly resolve severe infrastructure deficits in the Institution and Research District of the FCT.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu stated that the project successfully restores ease of movement and enhances security for thousands of students, lecturers, and legal professionals who previously navigated severely deteriorated routes in the District.

He recalled that the intervention was triggered by an appeal made by the Body of Benchers during a recent Call to Bar ceremony, stressing that the Federal Government, recognizing the urgency, bypassed bureaucratic delays to approve emergency funding for the project.

The President emphasized that the road network complete with street lights, walkways and a river bridge, marks another major milestone in the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda and fulfils the promise by the current administration to ensure the completion of all initiated projects.

"We promised that we would not allow governance to become a series of abandoned dreams and half-hearted efforts. Today, as we stand on this newly constructed Collector Road C01, we are not just looking at the physical roads and buildings; we are looking at a promise kept", President Tinubu stated during the commissioning ceremony

Beyond providing critical transportation access, the President highlighted the economic ripples of the project, noting that data from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) confirmed that the construction generated hundreds of direct and indirect grassroots jobs for Nigerian youths.

"Infrastructure is the greatest enabler of economic prosperity. When you build roads, you open up districts. When you open up districts, you invite investment. And when investment comes, Nigeria grows," President Tinubu emphasized

He commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, affectionately dubbing him the "Mr. Project" of this generation. The President further praised Barr. Wike's relentless work ethic and the rapid-fire marathon of project completions currently transforming the nation's capital and also extended gratitude to the FCDA engineers, contractors, and labourers who worked day and night to deliver the infrastructure in record time.

While reiterating that the ongoing transformation of Abuja is a microcosm of the development his administration is rolling out across the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Tinubu charged FCT residents, including the management and students of Nile University, Baze University, and the Body of Benchers to protect and cherish the new infrastructure

Speaking earlier at the event, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, explained that the project directly aligns with President Tinubu’s directive to ensure that every district in the FCT receives government intervention under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Barr. Wike recalled that the President was recently in the same district to commission the Body of Benchers Annex—also constructed by the FCTA—and thanked him for his consistent physical presence and support during the ongoing project commissioning blitz across the capital.

Crucially, the Minister extended his deepest appreciation to President Tinubu for the strategic policy decision to remove the FCT Administration from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), stressing that this single administrative reform unlocked the vital financial resources currently being utilized to fund and execute massive infrastructure projects across the territory.

“ABUJA IS NO LONGER A CITY OF ABANDONED PROJECTS”

R-L: FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud; Senate President, Obong Godswill Akpabio; FCT Minister, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike; Managing Director, Levant Construction Limited, Mr Elie Tannous at the Commissioning of Transit Way N2, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

“ABUJA IS NO LONGER A CITY OF ABANDONED PROJECTS” 

— PRESIDENT TINUBU SAYS

…AS NEW N2 TRANSIT WAY OPENS CBD-WUSE CORRIDOR

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, today said the Federal Capital Territory has turned a new corner in infrastructure delivery with the opening of the Transit Way N2 Corridor, now linking the Central Business District directly to the Wuse District through two standard-engineered bridges.

Speaking during the event marking the 50th Anniversary of the FCT and the third year of the Renewed Hope Administration, the President described the new road as “an economic artery”, that will cut travel time, ease congestion, and unlock commercial activity for millions of commuters and businesses.

President Tinubu recalled the charge given to the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, CON, upon his appointment.

“When I gave the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, CON, Mr. Project, the mandate to oversee the Federal Capital Territory, my directive was single, clear, and uncompromising: deliver tangible results to the people, eliminate delays, and return Abuja to its master plan,” the President stated.

He added: “I also stressed that the 'Renewed Hope Agenda' must not just be a slogan written on billboards, but a living reality that our people can see, touch, and drive upon. He has not failed me. He has continued to surpass my expectations.”

The President noted that movement between Wuse and the Central Area was once defined by bottlenecks and lost productivity.  

“For years, traveling between Wuse and the Central Area meant navigating bottlenecks, losing productive man-hours, and enduring frustrating traffic gridlock. Today that has changed,” he said

President Tinubu declared that the era of abandoned projects in Abuja is over, citing a new contract regime of funding, monitoring, and delivery.

“Abuja is no longer a city of abandoned projects. The era of contractors taking mobilization money and disappearing into thin air is permanently over in the FCT. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, if we sign a contract, we fund it, we monitor it, and we commission it”, he declared.

He commended the FCT Administration for vision and discipline in execution, and thanked contractors for “working around the clock to meet this deadline and building to the highest possible standards.”

Nigeria: FG Removes FCTA from TSA

Symbolic Photo

Nigeria: FG Removes FCTA from TSA

The Federal Government’s decision to exempt the FCTA from the Treasury Single Account marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s fiscal management framework.

The TSA, introduced to centralize government revenues and curb leakages, has long been hailed as a cornerstone of financial discipline.

However, President Tinubu insists that Abuja’s unique administrative and developmental needs require flexibility beyond the rigid confines of the TSA.  

President Tinubu explained that the exemption was necessary to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and allow the FCTA to access funds quickly for critical projects.

He emphasized that Abuja, as the nation’s capital, must operate with “liquidity, speed, and corporate flexibility” to deliver world-class infrastructure.   

Since the policy shift, Abuja has witnessed accelerated infrastructure delivery, including road construction, housing projects, and institutional reforms. Minister Nyesom Wike has been credited with translating the financial autonomy into tangible results, such as resolving the Nigerian Law School’s long-standing land title issue and commissioning new facilities for the legal sector. 

Nigeria’s FCTA Exits Treasury Single Account: Tinubu’s Bold Fiscal Shift

Symbolic Photo

Nigeria’s FCTA Exits Treasury Single Account: Tinubu’s Bold Fiscal Shift

President Bola Tinubu has officially removed the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) from Nigeria’s Treasury Single Account (TSA), arguing that the move provides financial flexibility and has already accelerated infrastructure development in Abuja. He credited FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for translating this policy into visible projects and institutional reforms. 

Background on the TSA

The Treasury Single Account (TSA) was introduced in Nigeria to centralize government revenues, reduce leakages, and enforce fiscal discipline. By pooling funds into a single account, ministries and agencies had limited direct access, which often slowed down project execution due to bureaucratic bottlenecks. The FCTA’s exemption marks a significant departure from this framework.

Tinubu’s Rationale

President Tinubu explained that removing the FCTA from the TSA was necessary to give Abuja’s administration liquidity, speed, and operational flexibility. He emphasized that the FCTA must be able to interface directly with financial institutions to deliver critical projects without bureaucratic delays. According to him, skeptics initially questioned the wisdom of this “financial liberation,” but the results are now evident in the rapid transformation of the capital city. 

Impact on Abuja’s Development

The exemption has allowed the FCTA to:

- Accelerate infrastructure delivery by eliminating bureaucratic delays in accessing funds.

- Expand urban renewal projects, including road construction and housing developments.

- Strengthen governance and justice institutions, such as resolving the Nigerian Law School’s long-standing land title issue by issuing its Certificate of Occupancy.

- Commission new facilities, including the Body of Benchers Office Annex and staff quarters at the Nigerian Law School in Bwari. 

Storms: Humanity’s Relentless Adversary

Symbolic Photo showing the devastation caused by storms

Storms: Humanity’s Relentless Adversary

Storms are among nature’s most formidable forces, a reminder that despite humanity’s technological progress, we remain vulnerable to the raw power of the earth’s atmosphere. 

They arrive with little regard for borders or human ambition, tearing through landscapes and societies with devastating consequences.

The destructive impact of storms is felt on multiple levels. Entire nations have seen their economies crippled by hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones. Infrastructure painstakingly built over decades can be reduced to rubble in hours. Roads, bridges, and power grids collapse under the weight of torrential rains and violent winds, leaving communities isolated and governments scrambling to respond.

For developing nations, the financial burden of rebuilding often deepens cycles of poverty and inequality, while wealthier nations face the sobering reality that no amount of preparation can fully shield them from nature’s wrath.

Beyond the economic toll lies the human tragedy. Families are displaced, homes are lost, and lives are shattered. Storms do not discriminate; they uproot the vulnerable and the powerful alike. Yet, it is often the poorest who suffer most, lacking the resources to evacuate or rebuild. 

The psychological scars of surviving such disasters linger long after the winds have calmed, manifesting in trauma, grief, and a profound sense of insecurity.

Storms also reshape the environment itself. Coastlines erode, forests are flattened, and agricultural lands are inundated, threatening food security and long-term sustainability.

In some cases, storms alter geography so drastically that maps must be redrawn. These changes remind us that humanity’s relationship with nature is not one of dominance but of coexistence, fragile and precarious.