‘I Will Resign If…’ — Wike Gives 48-Hour Challenge Over FCT Road Projects

• FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has challenged critics to disprove his administration’s road projects achievements in Abuja’s satellite towns within 48 hours, declaring he would resign if his claims are found to be false.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged critics of his administration’s infrastructure record to publicly disprove his claims on road construction in Abuja’s satellite towns within 48 hours, vowing to resign if they succeed.

Wike threw the challenge on Friday during the inauguration of the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, where he highlighted what he described as the achievements of the FCT Administration under President Bola Tinubu.

According to the minister, the administration has awarded contracts for 317 kilometres of roads in satellite towns since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023. He said 221 kilometres have already been completed, while work is ongoing on the remaining 96 kilometres.

“As I speak to you, since the assumption of office by Mr President, roads covering 317 kilometres have been awarded in the satellite towns. Out of that 317 kilometres, we have completed 221 kilometres, while 96 kilometres are ongoing,” Wike said.

He clarified that the figures relate only to projects executed in satellite towns and do not include road construction across the wider Federal Capital Territory.

“This is only for the satellite towns, not the FCT as a whole. For the satellite towns, 317 kilometres awarded, 221 kilometres completed and 96 kilometres ongoing,” he added.

The minister also assured residents that two major road projects—the Apo-Karshi Road and the Bwari-Kubwa Road—would be completed before the end of the year.

“Let me assure you, Mr President, the road from Apo to Karshi will be completed before the end of this year. The road from Bwari to Kubwa will be completed before the end of this year,” he said.

Wike argued that the ongoing infrastructure projects have transformed communities outside Abuja’s city centre, saying the Tinubu administration has extended development to areas that were previously neglected.

“How will satellite town people say they have not benefited from government? They have felt the impact of governance. It has never happened in the history of the administration of this country,” he stated.

The former Rivers State governor then issued a direct challenge to anyone questioning the figures, insisting they are verifiable.

“If there’s anybody who has a contrary view, let him come out and challenge us that all this you are saying is not correct. I will resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he declared.

Reiterating the challenge, Wike called on any individual or group with contrary evidence to appear on national television within 48 hours and prove that the administration neither awarded 317 kilometres of roads nor completed 221 kilometres in the satellite towns.

“If there’s anybody… I challenge you in the next 48 hours to come on national television and say that since this administration came, we have not awarded roads of 317 kilometres in the satellite towns and we have not completed 221 kilometres. I will resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.

Wike credited the pace of infrastructure development in the FCT to the support of President Tinubu and the cooperation of the National Assembly.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to sustaining development across the territory, stating that the government would continue to deliver on its infrastructure agenda under the President’s mandate.