2027 ELECTIONS WILL NOT SLOW DOWN INFRASTRUCTURE DRIVE IN FCT – WIKE ASSURES

… DISMISSES ATIKU’S CRITICISMS OF GOVERNMENT AS BASELESS

By: RABI MUSA UMAR

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has reassured residents that the ongoing infrastructure revolution across the nation’s capital will not be slowed down by political activities leading up to the 2027 general elections.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, 16 April 2026 shortly after a routine inspection of the Federal Highway 105 to Kuje town road and the dualization of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road, the Minister dismissed concerns that governance might take a backseat to politics, maintaining that the administration’s focus remains on fulfilling its mandate to the people rather than being distracted by electoral cycles.

Speaking on the feasibility of implementing the 2026 budget in an election-heavy atmosphere, Barr. Wike insisted that work would continue at full strength.

He noted that while politicians may be preoccupied with campaigns, the technical partners and contractors remain focused on project delivery.

“It’s feasible. People must work. The contractors—are they part of the elections? No. So, people will work. People must feed. We wouldn’t stop our various works because of elections…Even before we get to January, we must have done virtually over 80 percent of what we intend to do. So, we don’t have any problems about that”, the Minister stated.

Barr. Wike also stressed that the rapid progress on the Kuje-Gwagwalada axis is part of a deliberate strategy to decongest the city center and revealed that the contractors have promised to complete and hand over the ongoing road projects in Kuje by the end of May this year.

Addressing a question on the financial roadmap for the projects, the FCT Minister explained that the FCTA is currently implementing the 2025 budget, which was extended to June. He stated that the 2026 budget, which includes provisions for the second phase of the Kuje to Gwagwalada dualization, is awaiting the approval of the National Assembly.

Regarding former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticisms that the current administration’s policies have not positively impacted the lives of Nigerians, Barr. Wike dismissed the attack as attempts to gain public sympathy and a distraction from the visible progress being made by the current administration.

The Minister challenged the former Vice President to compare the FCT’s current transformation to what was achieved during his tenure. He described the former VP as a serial contester whose political career was nearing its end, emphasizing that the administration’s primary business remains, ‘Providing what Nigerians need’.

“Atiku is a serial contester and loser. Let him compare FCT now to when he was Vice President. Can he compare what is in FCT today to what it was then? His boss, former President Obasanjo, said the former Vice President is a complete failure and even attached corruption to his name. So, why would I reply to someone like that?”, the Minister queried.

Barr. Wike further refuted claims by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that he blocked their request for a convention venue and threatened to revoke the license of a private Event Centre which hosted the party’s convention, and challenged the party to produce any official correspondence or payment receipts to validate their claims of government interference.

“I don’t even know where Rainbow (the event centre) is. I have no business with your convention. People just want to have public sympathy. If you don’t know what to do, for Christ’s sake, go and solve your problems. I will be very glad for them to be on the ballot so the stories can be over”, the Minister stated.