President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his resolve to deliver infrastructure that directly improve the lives of Nigerians.
He described the newly commissioned Airport Road Link to Tunga Madaki Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a practical demonstration of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio delivered the President’s message during the inauguration of the seven-kilometre access road and four-span bridge linking Bill Clinton Drive to Tunga Madaki Settlement in Abuja’s Aerotropolis District.
Tinubu said the project was designed to correct a long-standing injustice suffered by communities that surrendered their ancestral lands for the construction of the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport but remained isolated from the economic and social benefits of the FCT.
According to the President, the road project reflects his administration’s commitment to delivering structural, calculated and deliberate progress rather than temporary solutions.
“When we came into office, we did not promise miracles that would appear from thin air. We promised a Renewed Hope Agenda that would touch the lives of every Nigerian citizen, not just in economic statistics but in the reality of their daily struggles,” he said.
Tinubu noted that, despite living close to the nation’s gateway airport, residents of Tunga Madaki and neighbouring communities had, for years, lacked motorable roads and easy access to the city centre.
“The original inhabitants of this area willingly surrendered their ancestral lands for a project vital to national security and economic expansion. Yet they remained cut off from the very development they helped make possible,” he said.
The President revealed that after being briefed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on the plight of the communities, he directed that their concerns be addressed through infrastructure and development projects to improve their standard of living.
“I made it clear that whatever the communities needed to make their lives better should be provided. We will not only take from communities; we will build them and elevate their standard of living,” he stated.
Tinubu described the newly completed road as an economic corridor that would improve mobility, enhance security around critical aviation infrastructure, reduce traffic congestion on the airport route and stimulate economic activities in Tunga Madaki, neighbouring communities and the Zuba axis.
He also highlighted the importance of the four-span bridge along the route, noting that it was designed to withstand seasonal flooding and ensure uninterrupted movement of people, goods and agricultural produce throughout the year.
The President commended Wike for what he described as exceptional commitment to project delivery, jokingly referring to him as “Mr Project.”
Recalling that he approved the project in February 2025, Tinubu expressed satisfaction that it had been completed within about 16 months.
“You mobilised immediately and delivered. No excuses, no stories, just results. That is the standard Nigerians deserve,” he said.
Tinubu further praised the traditional rulers and residents of Tunga Madaki for their cooperation and patience during the project’s execution, urging them to protect the infrastructure and preserve its right-of-way.
He also applauded contractors, consultants and engineers of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for delivering a project he said would serve generations to come.
Addressing broader national issues, the President acknowledged that ongoing economic reforms had involved difficult decisions but maintained that they were necessary to secure a stronger future for the country.
“We made hard choices, but they were necessary choices. They mean a stronger Nigeria tomorrow,” he said.
Tinubu also disclosed that work on the Abuja Airport Second Runway had resumed and was progressing steadily, describing it as a strategic project for national development.
Earlier, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, praised the people of Tunga Madaki for their cooperation and sacrifice in support of the airport’s second runway project, describing the community as a model of patriotism and partnership with the government.
Speaking during his welcome address, Wike said the commissioning ceremony stood out from other project inaugurations because of the massive turnout of residents who came out to celebrate what he described as the direct impact of governance on their lives.
“Today is different because the people of this community have shown their appreciation by coming out in large numbers. They are saying that they can now feel the impact of government and understand what governance is all about,” he said.
The minister disclosed that the community began discussing the matter when the government sought land for the construction of the airport’s second runway.
According to him, rather than demanding huge financial compensation, community leaders requested employment opportunities for their people and the provision of basic infrastructure.
“I want this community to serve as an example. They did not ask for billions of naira or make unreasonable demands. They asked the government to provide jobs and roads that would improve their lives,” Wike said.
He noted that the request highlighted the severe infrastructure challenges facing the community, including its lack of access roads despite its proximity to the international airport.
“Many people could not imagine that a community so close to the airport had no direct access to the city. Today, that story has changed,” he stated.
Wike explained that the seven-kilometre road project was part of the Tinubu administration’s determination to extend development beyond the city centre to satellite towns and rural communities.
“It is not only the city centre that deserves development. The benefits of governance must also reach the satellite communities, and that is exactly what we are doing,” he said.
The Minister revealed that the Minister had directed the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), to extend the road from Tunga Madaki to Zuba, further improving connectivity and opening up economic opportunities for residents.
He noted that the completed road now links communities across two area councils and provides a faster route to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Wike stressed that the essence of governance is to solve people’s problems and address developmental challenges, adding that the project had restored residents’ confidence in the government.
The Airport Road Link to Tunga Madaki Community is one of several projects being commissioned by the FCT Administration as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration and advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda across the nation’s capital.