Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Thursday took a swipe at former Senate President David Mark over what he described as his poor infrastructure record while in office, arguing that the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in road infrastructure within three years had surpassed what was accomplished during Mark’s tenure in leadership positions.
Wike spoke at the commissioning of the Interchange at Arterial Road N16–Ring Road II Junction linking Jahi and Gwarimpa districts in Abuja, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The minister’s remarks came in response to recent criticisms from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he said had nonetheless acknowledged the administration’s achievements in road infrastructure.
“ADC has conceded that in terms of road infrastructure, Mr. President has done very, very well,” Wike said. “Without roads, you cannot go to hospital, you cannot go to school, and you cannot go to farm. Roads are the bedrock of development in any society.”
Turning his attention to David Mark, whom he identified as chairman of a faction of a ADC, Wike questioned the former Senate President’s record on infrastructure delivery during his eight years in office.
According to him, the Akwanga-Makurdi road remained in deplorable condition despite being awarded during Mark’s tenure as Senate President under a ruling party’s government.
“The poor people could not afford to travel to Makurdi because there was no road. But David Mark, as Senate President then was flying helicopters,” Wike said.
“Today, because of the intervention of this administration, people can drive freely to Makurdi and Otukpo. The same David Mark, who once relied on helicopters can now travel by road too.”
The minister argued that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated what could be achieved through political will and commitment to continuity in governance.
He noted that the Jahi-Gwarimpa interchange project, commissioned on Thursday, was awarded before the current administration took office but had received no mobilisation or significant progress until the present government intervened.
“One of the problems of development in Nigeria is that new administrations often abandon projects initiated by their predecessors.
“But President Tinubu has shown that government is a continuum. What matters is completing projects for the benefit of the people, regardless of who awarded them,” he said.
Wike disclosed that residents of the area had long doubted the project would ever be completed, describing its delivery as a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory.
He also rejected claims that the administration’s development efforts were limited to road construction, citing investments in water infrastructure across satellite towns.
The minister recalled the recent commissioning of water projects in Karu and announced that a similar project in Bwari would be inaugurated on July 14.
“It is not correct to say we are only doing roads,” he said.
“In Karu, we commissioned water supply infrastructure, and by July 14 we will commission another major water project in Bwari. These are projects designed to improve the lives of ordinary people.”
Wike challenged critics to point to comparable investments in satellite towns during previous administrations, insisting that the Renewed Hope Agenda was delivering tangible benefits across the FCT.
