President Bola Tinubu has declared that a functional capital city is the foundation upon which a functioning nation is built, describing ongoing infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as proof of his administration’s commitment to inclusive development and practical delivery of the Renewed Hope agenda.

Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima during the commissioning of the Collector Road CN8 (Asuquo Okon Way) and adjoining roads in the Dakibiyu District of Abuja yesterday, Tinubu said infrastructure was not just about roads and bridges, but about transforming lives.

“When a city works, when its roads are paved, when lights stay on, when its arteries flow without congestion, it tells the world that the government is not just present but purposeful,” he noted.

The President emphasised that the road projects would immediately ease daily life, shorten commute times, open up economic opportunities, and improve access to essential services.

“Shops will open. Markets will thrive. Children will reach school faster. Emergency services will arrive quicker. This is what Renewed Hope means, not lofty rhetoric but practical impact,” he said.

According to Tinubu, the administration’s vision for Abuja extends beyond the city centre to neglected outskirts and underserved communities. “Every road we build, every bridge we complete, every community we connect is a firm step toward a more inclusive, equitable Nigeria,” he stated.

FCT Minister Wike recalled the deplorable state of the area before intervention, saying the project was awarded in September and construction began in October 2023.

“Today, we are commissioning it,” he noted, thanking the President for his support.

Also speaking, Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmud, appreciated the President and Vice President for championing inclusive urban development in the FCT, and commended all those involved in the timely execution of the project.

MEANWHILE, Wike has again insisted that no land was allocated to his children in the FCT.

Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lere Olayinka, in a statement yesterday, insisted that no land had been allocated to any of the minister’s children, saying: “As usual, this sponsored blackmail has failed.”

He noted that those seeking to blackmail the FCT Minister would need to put more effort, adding that “nothing will stop him from continuing with his developmental efforts in the FCT by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.