President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, commissioned the newly completed Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way), extending from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway (Ring Road 1) to Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way), along with an interchange and other adjoining roads within the Katampe District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Tinubu reaffirmed the importance of infrastructure for growth and social integration in the country and further committed to investing in roads, rail, power, healthcare, education, and digital infrastructure to unlock Nigeria’s full potential.
He emphasized the strategic importance of the Arterial Road N16 project linking the Jahi, Katampe, Maitama, and Mabushi Districts in the Abuja city centre, stressing that it affirms his administration’s commitment to urban transformation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
President Tinubu also disclosed that his administration has been guided by a philosophy that now sees tangible proof in action, transforming a long-underdeveloped corridor into a functional and durable infrastructure.
Stressing that cooperation is the hallmark of good leadership, President Tinubu specially commended the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, and his team for their dedication and collaborative approach in the timely completion of the project.
He also applauded the peaceful relocation and compensation of the communities along the road corridor during the execution of the project, ensuring that development was pursued by the FCT Administration without displacing the indigenous people.
Addressing the traditional rulers, the President said, “They told me how cooperative you were and you collaborated with the FCT Minister and respectively, you have been relocated. Not that we grabbed the land.
“Like any government, we want development. But how well we organize and execute them depends on us. Of course, we are here because of the trust you have in us. Thank you very much for your cooperation.
“And we thank the Minister of FCT too, for relocating your community with peace and good compensation”.
In his remarks, the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, disclosed that the Arterial Road N16 project was awarded by the current administration in October last year and commended the contractor, China Geo-Engineering Construction (CGC), for its timely completion.
He noted a significant surge in contractor confidence, evidenced by ongoing project executions in the FCT, some commenced even before mobilization, demonstrating a belief in prompt payment. “This tells you they have confidence that yes, they will be paid”, he remarked.
Barrister Wike also disclosed the decisive action by the FCT Administration in ensuring that communities along the road corridor received 200 per cent compensation, leading to seamless project execution.
“For the first time, the communities on the road corridor were paid their compensation 200 per cent. I said look, I don’t want anything that will stop the construction of this road.
“And when they were paid, I made sure that they were given other areas to go and live”, the Minister said.
Barr. Wike conveyed the profound happiness and appreciation of the FCT residents to President Tinubu for his impactful work in the FCT and reassured the President that no contract awarded under the FCT Administration would be abandoned, vowing to complete virtually all awarded contracts by the President’s third year in office.
The Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Mahmoud, in her remarks, also expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for his unwavering support to the FCT Administration and his commitment to infrastructure development. She extended appreciation to the Vice President, National Assembly members, and the Federal Executive Council, while lauding Barrister Wike’s visionary leadership for “turning Abuja around”.
The Acting Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, while presenting a technical brief of the Arterial Road N16, said the project is a six-lane dual carriageway with a total length of about 3.7 kilometers, including two interchanges. The road, he added, emanates from the Nnamdi Azikiwe expressway (by Nicon Junction and continues up to the Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way), passing through the Katampe District.
He said that the completion of the project has provided the much-needed circulation and connection within the city by connecting the Maitama District in phase I of the city to Katampe District in Phase II, extending up to Jahi District by the Wole Soyinka Way.
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