TINUBU COMMISSIONS TUNGAN MADAKI ROAD, SAYS NO CITIZEN SHOULD SUFFER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
…As Renewed Hope Agenda Reaches Airport Host Communities
By: Wisdom Acka and Prudence Okonna
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that no Nigerian citizen should be made to suffer as a consequence of national development, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring that communities affected by government projects benefit from inclusive growth and infrastructure development.
The President made the declaration on Thursday, 18th June 2026, during the commissioning of the seven-kilometre Tungan Madaki Access Road linking Bill Clinton Drive on the Nnamdi AzikiweInternational Airport road to the Tungan Madaki Settlement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The strategic road project, designed to bypass the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, is expected to improve connectivity, enhance airport security, ease traffic congestion, and unlock economic opportunities for residents of Tungan Madaki and neighbouring communities.
Represented at the ceremony by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu said the project reflects the practical impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda and demonstrates the administration’s determination to deliver infrastructure that directly improves the lives of citizens.
According to him, when his administration assumed office, it promised deliberate, structured, and sustainable development rather than quick fixes, adding that the newly commissioned road stands as evidence of that commitment.
The President recalled that residents of Tungan Madaki and surrounding communities willingly surrendered portions of their ancestral lands to facilitate the construction of the airport’s second runway, a project considered critical to national security and economic growth.
He noted, however, that despite their sacrifice, the communities were left without motorable roads and remained disconnected from both the airport and the city they helped accommodate.
“When the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, brought this matter to my attention, my directive was clear and unequivocal: Whatever the communities ask for to make their lives whole, give it to them,” Tinubu said.
“We do not just take; we build, we replace, and we elevate. No Nigerian should suffer as a result of national development.”
The President described the road as more than an engineering project, noting that it serves as an economic corridor designed to improve access to the airport, reduce congestion on Bill Clinton Drive, secure critical aviation infrastructure, and stimulate socio-economic activities within the area.
He also praised the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for what he described as the swift execution of the project after presidential approval was granted in February 2025.
“Look at the bridge built across this route. It is a testament to engineering resilience and a demonstration of what the Renewed Hope Agenda stands for—reducing hardship through infrastructure that works,” he said.
While acknowledging the economic challenges associated with ongoing reforms, the President urged Nigerians to remain patient and continue supporting government initiatives.
“We are not building for headlines. We are building for generations to come,” he added.
Earlier, FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike described the project as the fulfilment of promises made to the people of Tungan Madaki when the Federal Government sought their cooperation for the construction of the airport’s second runway.
He commended the community for prioritising development over financial compensation, noting that residents requested employment opportunities for their youths and improved road infrastructure rather than monetary payments.
According to the Minister, the community had remained isolated for years despite its proximity to the nation’s international airport, lacking basic road connectivity and access to government services.
“It was during the flag-off of this project that I personally witnessed the hardship faced by residents who live beside the airport but could not easily access it or connect with the city centre,” Wike said.
He noted that the completion of the project reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to extending development beyond Abuja’s city centre to satellite communities.
The Minister also announced that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had directed the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), to extend the road from Tungan Madaki to Zuba, a project expected to improve connectivity between the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Gwagwalada Area Council.
Barr. Wike warned land grabbers against encroaching on the road corridor or obstructing drainage channels, stressing that the area must remain dedicated to its intended purpose.
He further assured residents that the administration would facilitate the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy to safeguard their land rights and strengthen community confidence in government.
Providing a technical overview of the project, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Mr. Richard Dauda, explained that the road was conceived to improve accessibility to Tungan Madaki and neighbouring communities while enhancing security around the airport’s second runway.
He disclosed that the project consists of a seven-kilometre dual-lane asphalt carriageway, 14 kilometres of concrete-lined drainage channels, seven box and pipe culverts of varying sizes, and an 80-metre bridge spanning a river along the route.
Dauda added that the infrastructure forms part of broader regional development plans aimed at opening up the area for investment, facilitating the movement of agricultural produce, reducing travel time, creating employment opportunities, and boosting economic activities.
The commissioning ceremony attracted government officials, traditional leaders, community members, and residents, many of whom celebrated what they described as a transformative project that has finally connected their communities to the benefits of modern infrastructure and governance.
