The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed why a newly commissioned road in the FCT is named after the renowned Nigerian playwright, poet, and Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the Full Scope Development of the Arterial Road N20, from Northern Parkway to the Outer Northern Expressway, which was officially named “Wole Soyinka Way.”
Wike stated that the decision to name the road after Soyinka was to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to progress and development during their lifetime.
He emphasised the importance of recognising such contributions while the individuals are still alive, saying, “It is not when somebody dies that we will remember his contributions. It is good, in the lifetime of someone who has contributed to the greatness of this country, to recognise him.”
The contract for the construction of the road was awarded in 2020 at the cost of N30.6 billion.
The completion of the project has brought relief to the residents of the FCT, providing a safer and more efficient transportation network.
Wike expressed gratitude to the contractor for ensuring the timely completion of the road project.
In her remarks, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, also thanked President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly, and members of the Federal Executive Council for their support.
She extended appreciation to the engineers and the construction team who contributed to making the Arterial Road N20 a reality.
“By today’s inauguration, we are creating a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable transportation network that benefits everyone in the capital city,” she said.
President Bola Tinubu also supported the naming of the road after Soyinka, highlighting his status as the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize.
Tinubu commended Soyinka’s contributions to literature and his impact on Nigerian culture.
Wike explained that the road project, which included extensive underground infrastructure services and streetlights, featured two interchanges and spans 3.5 km from the Murtala Mohammed Expressway to Ahmadu Bello Way, out of the total 5.6 km stretch.
The project was executed without any cost variations, and Wike said that he inspected the construction more than ten times to ensure it met specifications.
The inauguration of Wole Soyinka Way marks the fifth major infrastructure project inaugurated in Abuja, including the Southern Parkway, the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System, the Wuye Interchange bridge, and the Outer Southern Expressway to Ring Road I.
