Relief as Tinubu inaugurates Jahi-Gwarinpa interchange

By Stanley Onyekwere

President Bola Tinubu Thursday inaugurated a key Abuja interchange linking Jahi, Gwarinpa districts of Abuja, and reiterated his administration’s aggressive infrastructure drive in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is systematically designed to rebuild public trust and restore citizens’ confidence in governance.

Performing the official commissioning of the project at the intersection of Arterial Road N16 and Ring Road II, a critical infrastructure asset to enhance mobility in the city, Tinubu, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, declared that “Abuja is changing,” noting that the project effectively ends the severe gridlock that historically choked commuters traveling between Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi, and Gwarinpa.

Earlier in his remarks, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, revealed that the newly minted Jahi/Gwarinpa Interchange was awarded by the previous administration, just a few days before President Tinubu was sworn into office.

He however , noted that the project was left behind with absolutely zero mobilization funding.

Wike stated that instead of abandoning the project—as has been the historical norm in Nigerian politics, the President immediately made funds available to ensure its completion.

“Mr. President, you have shown that government is a continuum. It doesn’t matter who awarded the project. What is important is to complete the project for the betterment and the development of society.

“This is what differentiated the current government and the previous administrations,” the Minister said.

The Jahi/Gwarinpa Interchange is only one segment of a much larger blueprint aimed at expanding the FCT’s transportation network.

According to Mr. Richard Dauda, the acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the project is part of a full-scope development of Arterial Road N16, which spans a total length of 7.25 kilometers to Ring Road III.

He explained that the project is being systematically executed in distinct phases – phase I (Maitama Section): Completed and fully operational, phase II (Katampe Section): completed up to Wole Soyinka Way (Arterial N20) and previously inaugurated, phase III (Jahi District Section): has attained a major milestone with the completion and launch of the new interchange, while the remaining stretches to Ring Road III will be completed in due course.

On her part, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, added that the completed interchange will significantly reduce travel times, slash fuel waste, and facilitate the smooth movement of goods and people to support Abuja’s rapidly expanding population.