By Stanley Onyekwere
President Bola Tinubu yesterday inaugurated the completed Southern Express Park way as one of the numerous projects, to mark his one year in office.
Inaugurating the project, Tinubu commended the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike for his visionary leadership, doggedness and hard work.
He noted that Mr. Project’s revolutionary spirit had brought hope to the people of FCT.
According to him, the completion of these remarkable transformative projects, symbolizes the collective aspirations of the Renewed Hope Administration.
Tinubu who explained that infrastructure is an enabler of economic development, said his administration will continuously pay attention to the needs of the citizens for a better Nigeria.
He said: “The needs of our citizens is paramount in our minds, so for making our citizens the central focus of our development, we believe Nigeria will succeed.
“As we formally inaugurate this road, I am greatly honoured.Thank you very much; for being a very good team leader. we all, collectively ,will not let you down.
“ I will not say that I am surprised. Barrister Nyesom Wike, Mr Project, thank you for giving us this hope, and sincere commitment to shared value. Well done; as a team leader, you work so hard, tirelessly.
“I must recognise your vision that is revolutionary and very inspiring to many of our people. The changes you made to the FCT,structural and administrative, is yielding results and elevating the heart of many Nigerians, thank you very much.”
Ealier in his welcome remarks, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike expressed
delight that the completion of the Southern Park road that had suffered poor funding in the last 10 years, will now bring relief for residents, reduce travel time, change the aesthetic of the city, and decongest traffic.
“Today, we celebrate not just the completion of a roadway, but the opening of new pathways to economic growth and national unity.
“On assumption of office in August 2023, we were confronted with many uncompleted projects that have dragged on for several years.
“However, the coming of the current Administration and Mr. President’s unflinching support has indeed led to the completion of this project amongst others, that are ready for commissioning”, Wike said.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Shehu Hadi Ahmad, who gave the technical overviews of the project, said the parkway system forms an integral path of the network of roads in the transportation master plan of the Federal capital city.
Ahmad added that it dissects the two development corridors, and is planned to function as a freeway with a view to optimize vehicular movement.
He explained that segment of the southern parkway, that is being commissioned today covers a total distance of about 5.4 kilometres, spanning from the national Christian centre and CBN junction with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, which is the inner southern expressway, up to the Ring road one, that is the Nnamdi Azikiwe expressway.
He adds: “The southern pathway had remained undeveloped over the years. And the southern development corridor parkway starts from the city centre, at its intersection with the inner southern expressway, and passes through phases one to four of the south of the city and ends on the inner southern expressway, at a junction near Kuje, located in phase four and it has a total length of about 27 kilometres.
“The project was awarded to Mrs. Setraco Nigeria Limited in two phases first in December 2010 and then November 2012, as phases one and two, but has suffered inadequate funding.
“ It is out of the doggedness and the determination of Mr. Project, the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, that we are able to see to the accomplishment of this outstanding work on this which has enabled us to present today for commission.”
Highpoint of the newly inaugurated Southern Park Way, which transverses from National Christians Center, intersecting at the Goodluck Jonathan Way, down to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, was its official naming as Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way.
PeoplesDaily reports that commercial operation of the refurbished Abuja Light Rail is scheduled for commissioning by Tinubu on Wednesday (today).
Other projects lined up for commissioning in the FCT include, The provision of engineering infrastructure to Wuye District on Thursday, May 30, 2024, the commissioning of the extended Inner Southern Expressway from the Outer Southern Expressway, for May 31, the full scope development of the Arterial Road N20 from Northern Parkway to Outer Northern Expressway, for June 1, the commissioning of Roads B6, B12, and Circle Road in the Abuja Central Area, scheduled for June 3, the commissioning of the expanded Outer Southern Expressway from Villa Roundabout to Ring Road 1 junction, billed for June 4, the provision of engineering infrastructure to Guzape District Lot II, for June 5 and the commissioning of the Vice President’s Residence scheduled for June 6, 2024.
