PROJECT FALG-OFF: PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS CONTRACTORS TO EMPLOY NIGERIANS, TRAIN ARTISANS.
… As Wike Orders Removal of Illegal Structures
By: Wisdom Acka
President Bola Tinubu has flagged off the construction of the two service carriageways for the Southern Parkway, issuing a firm directive to contractors to prioritize Nigerian labour and skills development.
The President, who was represented at the ceremony by the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda on June 23, 2026, stated that construction of the road is critical for the relief of chronic traffic congestion affecting residents of Durumi, Gudu, Gaduwa, and Phase 2 mass housing estates.
Tinubu assured that his administration is determined to alleviate the pain of the daily gridlock on corridors such as Abdulsalami Abubakar and Oladipo Diya Ways.
“When these service carriageways are completed, that pain will reduce. Traffic will flow, travel time will drop, businesses will save money, and families will spend less time in traffic and more time together. That is the dividend of democracy and that is the renewed hope that you can feel and you can touch every day,” the President said.
He emphasized: “The Southern Parkway is a major route of the Southern Development Corridor. It starts from the Inner Southern Expressway in Phase One and terminates at the same corridor in Phase Four. When fully developed, it will enhance vehicular traffic circulation within the southern part of the city and provide vital inter-district connections across the Federal Capital Territory.”
The President seized the moment to commend the FCT Minister, whom he addressed as “Mr. Projects,” commending his discipline, vision, and political will in awakening abandoned projects and delivering on set targets across the capital territory. “The transformation of the FCT under your leadership is real and it’s inspiring,” President Tinubu stated.
Shifting focus from concrete to human capital, President Tinubu delivered a clear mandate to the contractor, CGC Nigeria Limited. “We expect speed, but we demand quality. Employ our youth. Engage our youth. Train our artisans. Make them part of the work. Make this project a source of job and skills for Nigerians. That is how we can turn infrastructure into common prosperity for our people,” he directed.
In his remarks earlier, the FCT Minister dismissed concerns that infrastructure development in the Territory would slow down because of the forthcoming general elections season, insisting that the administration remained focused on completing ongoing projects.
“Today is our 10th day of commissioning projects, but some people have asked whether projects will now be abandoned because elections are approaching. The answer is no. Elections or no elections, we must continue implementing the directive of Mr. President to transform the Federal Capital Territory,” Wike said.
The Minister expressed confidence that Abuja’s landscape would be significantly transformed before the end of President Tinubu’s first term in office.
“By the time Mr. President finishes his first tenure on May 29, 2027, before he is sworn in for a second tenure, the landscape of Abuja would have entirely changed, by the grace of God,” he declared.
Wike disclosed that he had personally engaged the management of CGC Nigeria Limited on the project timeline and received assurances that the contractor would work around the clock to deliver the project, provided the government fulfilled its funding obligations.
He also issued a stern warning against illegal developments and land grabbing along the project corridor, directing officials of the FCTA Departments of Development Control and Lands to identify and remove structures erected on lands not legally allocated.
“Those who have forged documents and encroached on government land should know that it will not work. Any illegal structure along the corridor will be removed. We must protect the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan,” he warned.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Acting Head of Service of the FCT Administration, Mrs. Nancy Sabanti Nathan, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the project and to stakeholders whose support made the initiative possible.
She described the project as a critical intervention that would ease traffic congestion, improve transportation efficiency, and stimulate economic activities in the affected districts.
Providing a technical brief of the project earlier, Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Yunana Dauda, revealed that the Southern Parkway is one of the major roads of the Southern Development Corridor of the City.
He explained that it commences at the Inner Southern Expressway (Goodluck Jonathan Expressway) in Phase 1 of the City, and terminates at the same Inner Southern Expressway in Phase 4 of the City, in the Southern Corridor.
According to him, the scope of work for the project includes the construction of two service carriageways, each of two lanes and about 3 kilometers each, two river bridges of two spans each, drainage facilities, and drainage structures like trapezoidal drains, pipe culverts, box culverts, as well as street lighting.
