PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMISSIONS OSEX MAIN CARRIAGEWAYS, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT

By: Wisdom Acka and Prudence Okonna

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to completing inherited projects and expanding critical infrastructure nationwide, declaring that the era of abandoned government projects is over.

Represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the President made the declaration on Tuesday, March 9, 2026, during the commissioning of the two main carriageways of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Ring Road I Junction to Ring Road II Junction in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the president said the newly completed road project was more than a transportation corridor, describing it as a symbol of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and a testament to the government’s determination to deliver tangible development to Nigerians.

“When we took the oath of office to lead this great nation, we did not promise shortcuts; we promised hard work. We pledged a Renewed Hope that is tangible, visible, and impactful. What we are doing today goes far beyond laying asphalt or mixing concrete; we are paving the way for a brighter future,” he said.

The President noted that infrastructure remains the lifeblood of economic growth, stressing that quality road networks are essential for unlocking the economic potential of cities, creating jobs, reducing transportation costs, and improving the quality of life for citizens.

According to him, the administration inherited the OSEX project and has steadily advanced its development in phases. He recalled that the first phase from the Villa Roundabout to Ring Road I, including the interchange, was commissioned in 2024, while the 15-kilometre left-hand service carriageway was completed and inaugurated in 2025.

“We do not start projects to abandon them. Not with Mr. Projects. The era of uncompleted projects in the FCT and Nigeria is gone. We shall finish what we have started and even what we did not start,” he declared.

Tinubu commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, and the entire FCT Administration team for what he described as their focus, vision, and commitment to transforming Abuja.

He specifically praised Wike for prioritizing performance and ensuring contractors delivered projects according to specifications and timelines.

“You have demonstrated that public service is about performance, not excuses. You have kept contractors on their toes and kept our vision alive in consonance with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

Highlighting the benefits of the project, the President stated that the expressway would significantly ease traffic congestion, reduce travel time, save fuel costs, and improve connectivity between key districts within the capital city.

By linking the Apo axis to Wasa and Ring Road II, he noted, the project would expand Abuja’s economic footprint, open up new development corridors, and lower the cost of doing business in the FCT.

The President also thanked residents and businesses along the corridor for their patience during the construction period, acknowledging the inconveniences caused by dust, diversions, and construction activities.

Earlier, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike disclosed that the contract for the project was awarded to CGC Nigeria Limited in late 2025 and completed within approximately eight months, despite initial doubts about the ambitious timeline.

Wike said he personally conducted multiple inspections of the project to ensure the contractor fulfilled its commitment, describing the completion of the expressway as proof that “nothing is impossible when there is commitment and determination.”

The minister also highlighted the administration’s efforts to relocate mechanics operating along the corridor to a newly developed site equipped with modern infrastructure and water supply facilities.

He emphasised that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated responsible leadership by completing projects inherited from previous governments rather than abandoning them.

“Government is a continuum. Most of the projects we have completed since 2023 were initiated by previous administrations. Leadership requires continuity, not abandonment,” Wike said.

Also speaking, Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the commissioning as another major milestone in the development of the nation’s capital.

She expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his unwavering support for infrastructure development and commended Minister Wike for what she described as his exceptional execution and implementation capacity.

Mahmoud also thanked the National Assembly, traditional rulers, area council chairmen, contractors, engineers, and residents for their contributions to the successful completion of the project.

Providing a technical overview of the project, the Acting  Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) explained that the newly commissioned section forms part of the larger 67-kilometre Outer Southern Expressway designed to connect the city centre to the Abuja-Lokoja Highway at Gwagwalada.

He disclosed that the project comprises dual three-lane main carriageways, each four kilometres long, complemented by bridges, culverts, drainage systems, crash barriers, street lighting, telecommunications ducts, and other supporting infrastructure.

According to him, the completion of the project has improved traffic circulation between Ring Road I, the Apo District, Wasa, and Ring Road II, while reducing congestion and enhancing security and socio-economic activities within the area.