PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMISSIONS ROAD AND INTERCHANGE LINKING JAHI AND GWARIMPA DISTRICTS

Lateral view of the bridge linking Jahi District to Gwarimpa District at Interchange N16

PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMISSIONS ROAD AND INTERCHANGE LINKING JAHI AND GWARIMPA DISTRICTS

…As FCT Minister reveals signing of 25,000 C of Os under the current administration

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially commissioned the strategic interchange at the Arterial Road N16 / Ring Road II intersection, seamlessly linking Jahi and Gwarimpa districts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The milestone event took place on Thursday, June 25, 2026 and marks the 12th consecutive day of a historic 31-day project commissioning itinerary celebrating the third anniversary of the administration’s impactful governance.

Delivering the keynote address, President Tinubu, who was represented by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described the newly completed interchange and its accompanying slip roads as a tangible manifestation of his administration's "Renewed Hope Agenda and part of the nationwide push to revitalize public infrastructure.

He noted that the project will improve freedom of movement, enhance security and return valuable time to residents of the FCT, adding that the severe gridlock that previously choked the Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi, and Gwarimpa axes resulting in lost man hours and delayed businesses is now a thing of the past.

“This intersection used to choke Abuja. Gridlock stretched from Maitama to Gishiri, from Jahi to Gwarimpa. Hours were lost. Fuel was wasted. Businesses were delayed. Today, that story ends. This interchange opens up critical districts of the Federal Capital City and connects them smoothly to the rest of the Territory. Goods will now move faster. Workers will get home earlier. Students will get to class on time. Security will improve because criminals thrive where traffic stands still” President Tinubu stated.

While congratulating the residents of Jahi, Gwarimpa, Katampe, and neighboring communities for their patience during the construction phase, the President reminded citizens that civic rights coexist with responsibilities, urging them to protect the new infrastructure and remain diligent in paying their taxes and levies to enable further developmental strides.

 He commended the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, CON, praising his indefatigable drive and execution of the directive to make Abuja work. He also lauded Barr. Wike’s ability to domesticate the Renewed Hope Agenda across both the city center and the satellite towns, a transformation visible to residents and critics alike.

 “Wike, you are delivering. You took my charge to “make Abuja work” and you are executing it well. From roads to bridges, from city centre to satellite towns, you are domesticating Renewed Hope across the FCT. Nigerians can see it. Critics can see it. Residents feel it in their daily lives. Well done”, President Tinubu stated.

President Tinubu also extended praise to the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) team, and the project contractors, CBC Global Civil Construction Nig. Ltd., for delivering high-quality engineering on schedule while boosting the local economy through youth employment.

Speaking in his personal capacity, the Senate President countered critics who question the administration's heavy focus on roads, maintaining that good roads are indispensable prerequisites for accessing healthcare, education, and markets. He added that if past administrations had prioritized infrastructural development rather than relying on exclusive air travel, current resources would have been redirected elsewhere.

Senator Akpabiio commended President Tinubu’s macroeconomic reforms, stating that the diversification of Nigeria's revenue base has empowered state governors to execute projects and pay salaries without borrowing, while revealing that the National Assembly is actively working on constitutional reforms to move security to the concurrent list, enabling state police.

In his remarks, the FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike, revealed that the Jahi-Gwarimpa project was awarded just two days before President Tinubu’s inauguration in May 2023 without any mobilization funds.

He noted that the administration’s refusal to abandon the project demonstrates a mature, continuous approach to governance aimed purely at societal development.

Barr. Wike criticized the historic tendency of successive Nigerian leaders to abandon projects initiated by their predecessors, praising President Tinubu for breaking that cycle. According to the Minister, the completion of the interchange demonstrates that the current administration prioritizes societal development over political ego, proving that government is indeed a continuous entity.

Responding directly to opposition critics, specifically a press statement from a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) claiming that citizens "cannot eat roads alone," Barr. Wike firmly defended the administration’s infrastructural focus. He emphasized that roads serve as the absolute bedrock and engine of development globally, asking rhetorically how citizens could access hospitals, schools, or farms without proper transport networks.

He added that under the administration of President Tinubu, Nigerians can now drive freely along those corridors, stressing that true leadership lies in delivering tangible results where previous administrations spent years failing to do so.

While challenging critics to acknowledge these clear improvements, the FCT Minister also dismissed claims that President Tinubu’s administration is exclusively focused on road construction, highlighting massive, ongoing investments in water infrastructure and regional ease of doing business. He noted that the administration recently commissioned a neighborhood water project in Karu and is set to commission another major satellite town water project in Bwari on July 14th.

Barr. Wike also contrasted this rapid execution with previous eras, pointing out that between 2010 and 2023, less than 4,000 Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) were signed in the FCT. In stark contrast, under President Tinubu's three years in office, the FCT has signed no fewer than 25,000 C of Os, effectively unlocking massive capital and dramatically improving the ease of doing business for Nigerians.

Earlier in the event, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, remarked that the interchange goes far beyond basic traffic management, functioning as a vital economic nexus that connects businesses and opportunities across Abuja to support its expanding population. She commended the seamless synergy within the FCTA leadership and praised Minister Wike's result-oriented governance.

Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, Acting Executive Secretary, FCDA, while presenting the technical overview of the project, said the contract was awarded in May 2023 to CBC Global Nigeria Limited. He further stated that the scope of work for the completed aspects of the project included construction of a dual carriageway for a part of Arterial N16 from Jahi District up to Gwarinpa District. He said the technical details included two interchange bridges of four spans each, 750 meters of ramp roads, 1.6 kilometer length of retaining walls, 1.5 kilometers of 2 lane service carriage ways along Ring Road 2, along with culverts and concrete drains, together with underground services like storm water drainages, sewer lines, telecommunication ducts, and street lighting.

 The Managing Director of CBC Global, Alhaji Umar Yahaya, expressed pride in partnering with the FCTA, noting that the completed site, which was previously a bushy hideout for criminal activities and shanties, has now been transformed into a beautifully lit, safe, and modern passageway, reinforcing the company's commitment to absolute engineering excellence.

MORE PICTURES AND CAPTIONS

(Left to Right): Senator Allwell Onyesoh; FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure; Senate President, H.E. Godswill Akpabio; FCT Minister, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike; His son, Barr Jordan Wike; PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; Senator Olaka Nwogu

FCT Minister, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike (Left) watches as Senate President, Obong Godswill Akpabio (Right) receives the bouquet from little Rukaya Zakari, on arrival at the commissioning of Interchange N16 linking Jahi District to Gwarimpa District

 

Senator Philip Aduda (left) exchanging pleasantries with Senate President Obong Godswill Akpabio (Right) at the event

RABI MUSA UMA

DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PRESS

(OFFICE OF THE HON. MINISTER)

FCTA/ODP/PR/866

25/06/2026