The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged anyone disputing his administration’s record on road construction in Abuja’s satellite towns to publicly prove him wrong within 48 hours, declaring that he would resign as minister if his claims were found to be false.
Wike made the declaration on Friday during the inauguration of the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, one of the major satellite communities in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking before government officials, residents and other guests, the minister defended the performance of the FCT Administration under President Bola Tinubu, insisting that infrastructure development in satellite towns had reached a level never seen in the history of the territory.
According to him, the figures on road construction are verifiable and available for public scrutiny.
“As I speak to you, since the assumption of office by Mr President, roads covering 317 kilometres have been awarded in the satellite towns. Out of that 317 kilometres, we have completed 221 kilometres, while 96 kilometres are ongoing,” Wike said.
He stressed that the figures referred only to road projects in satellite towns and did not include the many road projects being executed within Abuja city itself.
“This is only for the satellite towns, not the FCT as a whole. For the satellite towns, 317 kilometres awarded, 221 kilometres completed and 96 kilometres ongoing,” he added.
The minister said the level of development recorded in the satellite communities shows that the Federal Government is deliberately extending infrastructure beyond the city centre to areas that had previously received limited attention.
For many years, residents of satellite towns such as Kubwa, Bwari, Karshi, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Abaji have complained about poor roads, inadequate public facilities and slow infrastructure development compared to the Abuja city centre.
Successive administrations have faced criticism for concentrating development within the Central Area while many suburban communities continued to struggle with poor road networks despite rapid population growth.
Wike said the current administration was changing that narrative through large-scale road construction and rehabilitation projects across the territory.
He argued that the impact of the projects was already being felt by residents.
“How will satellite town people say they have not benefited from government? They have felt the impact of governance. It has never happened in the history of the administration of this country,” he said.
The minister also assured President Tinubu and residents of the FCT that two major road projects would be completed before the end of the year.
He specifically mentioned the Apo-Karshi Road and the Bwari-Kubwa Road as priority projects nearing completion.
“Let me assure you, Mr President, the road from Apo to Karshi will be completed before the end of this year. The road from Bwari to Kubwa will be completed before the end of this year,” he said.
Wike used the occasion to throw an open challenge to critics questioning his administration’s performance.
He insisted that anyone who believes the figures he presented are inaccurate should publicly challenge him with evidence.
“If there’s anybody who has a contrary view, let him come out and challenge us that all this you are saying is not correct. I will resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he declared.
Repeating the challenge for emphasis, the former Rivers State governor gave his critics a 48-hour deadline.
“Maybe you didn’t hear me well. Let me say it again so you hear it well.
“If there’s anybody, I don’t know of any association you may belong to. I don’t know of any group you may belong to. But if you know you have a contrary view to what I have said, I challenge you in the next 48 hours to come on national television and say that since this administration came, we have not awarded roads of 317 kilometres in the satellite towns and we have not completed 221 kilometres.
“I will resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.”
The minister maintained that every figure presented during his speech could be verified through official records.
He said the administration remained committed to transparency and accountability in the execution of infrastructure projects.
Wike also credited the pace of development in the FCT to the support received from President Tinubu.
According to him, the President has consistently backed efforts to improve infrastructure across the territory and has provided the political support needed to execute major projects.
He equally acknowledged the role played by the National Assembly, saying lawmakers had maintained a cooperative relationship with the FCT Administration.
“One is happy, first of all, to commend you for the support you have given to us, and to commend the National Assembly for the support and relationship we have enjoyed with them,” Wike said.
He assured the President that the administration would continue implementing projects aimed at improving the lives of residents across both urban and rural communities.
“On your mandate, we shall stand,” he added.
Since assuming office as FCT Minister in August 2023, Wike has made infrastructure development one of the major priorities of his administration.
Several road projects, bridges and public facilities have either been completed or are under construction across the territory.
The administration has also embarked on the rehabilitation of old roads, expansion of major highways and opening up of new access roads in growing communities.
Officials say these projects are intended to reduce traffic congestion, improve transportation and encourage economic activities across the FCT.
Road construction has remained one of the key indicators used by the administration to measure its performance.
However, while many residents have welcomed the renewed focus on infrastructure, some civil society groups and opposition voices have argued that development should also be matched with improvements in healthcare, education, water supply, sanitation and affordable housing.
Others have called for greater transparency regarding project costs, procurement processes and timelines for completion.
Wike’s public challenge is one of the strongest statements yet by a serving minister defending the performance of the Tinubu administration.
By tying his position to the accuracy of the figures presented, the minister has placed significant confidence in the FCT Administration’s records on road construction.
As residents continue to monitor ongoing projects, attention will also focus on whether the administration meets its promise to complete the Apo-Karshi and Bwari-Kubwa roads before the end of the year.
For now, Wike insists that the record speaks for itself and has challenged anyone with evidence to the contrary to present it publicly within 48 hours, maintaining that he is prepared to leave office if his claims are proven false.