President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday declared that infrastructure remains the bridge between “potential and prosperity,” as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration flagged off the construction of the access road linking Tungan Madaki to the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in Zuba.

Represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, at the ceremony, the President said the project forms part of his administration’s broader commitment to extending development beyond Abuja’s city centre and ensuring that satellite communities benefit from improved infrastructure.

According to him, the road is a continuation of the Bill Clinton Drive-Tungan Madaki road commissioned a few weeks ago as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Administration.

“What began as one road is now growing into a network, and that is how real development takes root,” Tinubu said.

He noted that Tungan Madaki, Zuba and neighbouring communities are home to farmers, traders, students and workers whose livelihoods have long been constrained by poor road infrastructure.

The President observed that for years, residents suffered disruptions during the rainy season, while farmers incurred losses as agricultural produce failed to reach markets on time because of poor accessibility.

He said the new road would provide a direct link to the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, reduce travel time, lower transportation and vehicle maintenance costs, facilitate the movement of goods and people, and improve security response across the axis.

“When farmlands are opened, food becomes cheaper in our markets. When communities are connected, young people have more reason to build enterprises at home. When response time for security agencies improves, our people are safer.

“Infrastructure is not just concrete and asphalt. It is the bridge between potential and prosperity, and that is the core of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

Tinubu said the Federal Capital Territory was conceived to serve all Nigerians and stressed that the vision could only be realised through the integration of satellite towns and gateway communities into the capital city’s development framework.

He described the project as strategic to easing pressure on the city centre, creating alternative routes for commuters and strengthening the economic corridor between Abuja, Kaduna and the wider North-West region.

The President added that the road would also stimulate investment in housing, education, healthcare and industrial development along the corridor.

Tinubu commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration for what he described as the discipline and speed in delivering infrastructure projects across the territory.

He said the administration had demonstrated renewed commitment to planning, completing abandoned projects and executing programmes that directly improve the quality of life of residents.

“When I gave the charge to transform the FCT, the instruction was simple: deliver tangible outcomes that improve daily life. The work speaks for itself,” he said.

The President further urged the contractor handling the project to ensure timely delivery, maintain high construction standards and engage local labour, while calling on residents of Tungan Madaki, Zuba and adjoining communities to cooperate with the contractor for the successful execution of the project.

He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to complete ongoing road extensions and inner-city road projects as part of a comprehensive strategy to make the FCT more accessible and ensure that no community is left behind in national development.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said the project was in fulfilment of President Tinubu’s directive that all satellite towns and area councils should enjoy equitable infrastructure development.

He explained that the decision to extend the road from Tungan Madaki to the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway followed requests by the leadership of Gwagwalada Area Council after the council election.

According to Wike, the completed road will provide residents of Zuba and surrounding communities with direct access to Abuja without having to pass through Gwagwalada, while also improving connectivity to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

He recalled that host communities around the airport had consistently sought better access roads rather than financial compensation, adding that the new project would address that longstanding demand.

The minister described the project as a “Christmas gift” to residents of Tungan Madaki and Zuba, expressing confidence that the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), would complete the road by December.

He attributed the sustained pace of infrastructure delivery in the FCT to the support of President Tinubu and the National Assembly, noting that the administration remained committed to extending development to every part of the territory.