FCTA PRESS RELEASE
THIRD
YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMISSIONS STRATEGIC AIRPORT
BYPASS RURAL ROAD
…SAYS
NO CITIZEN SHOULD BE A VICTIM OF DEVELOPMENT
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has officially commissioned the 7-kilometer access road bypassing the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport's second runway, off the Bill Clinton Drive to the Tugan Madaki settlement in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, June 18, 2026, President Tinubu who was represented by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, noted that the newly commissioned route with a four span bridge will open up critical economic pathways for local communities that have spent years physically isolated from the economic heart of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He stressed that the project situated in the FCT’s Aerotropolis District will also address a long-standing historical injustice against original inhabitants of the area who had surrendered their ancestral lands to allow the construction of the strategically vital second runway.
"These
patriotic communities gave up land for airplanes to fly, yet they had no
motorable roads for their own feet, motorcycles and vehicles. Let me state this
clearly: no citizen should be made a victim of national development. When the
Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, brought this matter to
my attention, my directive was clear and unequivocal: 'Whatever the communities
ask for to make their lives whole, give it to them. My administration will not
just take from the communities, we build, we replace, and we elevate”,
President Tinubu stated
He commended the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, and his team for their rapid execution of the project, noting that the FCT Administration, following presidential approval in February 2025, mobilized immediately and finished the entire road stretch and bridge in just 16 months.
He said, "Wike, you are 'Mr. Project', and you have not disappointed us. Today, barely 16 months later, this beautiful stretch of road is completed and ready for use. No excuses. No stories. Just delivery. That is the standard Nigerians deserve".
President Tinubu who also lauded the engineering team's capacity, urged the traditional rulers and local residents to fiercely protect the infrastructure by keeping drainage systems free of refuse and preventing illegal construction along the right-of-way.
Addressing the ongoing economic reforms, President Tinubu, acknowledged the painful rise in the cost of living and reassured citizens that the government has taken very difficult but necessary decisions that will ensure a stronger Nigeria.
The Senate President, while delivering the executive address, also lauded the FCT Minister's unparalleled track record, suggesting that in addition to his iconic name of "Mr. Project," Barrister Wike should also be called "Mr. Deliverer".
"This
is the first time a Minister will set aside 31 consecutive days just for the
commissioning of completed projects", the Senate President remarked.
He described Barr. Wike as a "miracle worker" and commended President Tinubu for his foresight in appointing the Minister to spearhead the FCT's transformation.
In his remarks, the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, praised the people of Tugan Madaki for their peaceful cooperation, noting that the communities, rather than demanding exorbitant financial payouts, requested basic, life-changing necessities like roads and employment which he said the FCT Administration has granted.