Gridlock: Relief for residents motorists as Southern Parkway work begins

By Stanley Onyekwere

Abuja’s notoriously congested southern districts are set for a major traffic relief as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) officially flagged off the construction of the two vital service carriageways along the Southern Parkway.
Flagging off the project on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, noted that the expansion is part of a broader urban renewal strategy.
The project, awarded to CGC Nigeria Limited, aims to completely eliminate the grueling daily gridlock experienced by thousands of commuters in Durumi, Gudu, Gaduwa, and Duboyi.
While the main expressway—recently named the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way—is already operational, the lack of service lanes has bottlenecked traffic into residential areas.
The newly launched 3-kilometer project will bridge the gap by introducing: dual service roads to separate local and express traffic.
With two new bridges and advanced drainage networks, comprehensive street lighting infrastructure to boost nighttime security, the project is designed to drastically pull traffic away from currently overextended routes like Shehu Yar’Adua Way and Oladipo Diya Way.
In a sharp departure from typical political project cycles, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike declared that the fast-approaching election season would not slow down Abuja’s infrastructure drive. Wike revealed he has placed the contractor on a strict, round-the-clock schedule with a firm deadline.
“I want this road commissioned before we go into the elections in January 2027. Elections or no elections, we must continue implementing the directive of Mr. President to transform the FCT.”
Wike assured the contractors that funding will be released promptly to avoid any bureaucratic delays, but warned that speed must not compromise structural integrity.
The infrastructure push is also bringing a heavy hammer down on illegal property developers. And with the alignment for the new service lanes mapped out, Wike issued a stern directive to the Development Control and Lands Departments to aggressively demolish any encroachments along the Southern Parkway corridor.
“Those who have forged documents and encroached on government land should know that it will not work,” Wike warned, emphasizing that the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan remains non-negotiable.
Our correspondent reports that it joins a list of rapid-deployment FCT projects including the Professor Wole Soyinka Way (Arterial Road N20) and critical interchanges linking Jahi and Gwarimpa.
While temporary diversions and delays will affect Gaduwa and its environs during the construction phase, officials promise the long-term payoff will mean shorter commutes, lower vehicle maintenance costs, and a massive boost to local commerce.