By Sarah NEGEDU
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday openly canvassed support for the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the February 2026 Area Council elections in Abuja.
Wike who was speaking during the flag-off of a 7-kilometre road in Tunga Madaki, endorsed the re-election bid of Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, urging residents of Tunga Madaki and neighbouring communities to back him in the forthcoming elections.
He described Maikalangu, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, as the voice that consistently pressed for the community’s demand for road access to be met.
“Now that you have your son, Maikalangu, who has always, day and night, keep on reminding me, ‘Mr. Minister, remember, the people of Tunga Madaki had made this request during the compensation of the land acquired for the second runway. Please, I would like to ask you to continue to press on Mr. President, so that we can attend to them, so we can make sure that the request made is being fulfilled.’
“So, my dear people of Tunga Madaki, I have handed over Maikalangu to you. So that, when the election will be held in February, by June, Mr. President will be here to inaugurate this road, and then we will all dance, and dance, and then Mr. Maikalangu will come and do the needful after the election in February 2026,” the minister declared.
He went further to draw a direct link between government performance and electoral loyalty.
“One good turn deserves another. When you do for me, I do for you. When you fall for me, I fall for you. When you listen to me, I listen to you. If you push me, I push you. If you quack me, I’ll quack you,” he told the cheering crowd.
The minister reminded the people of Tunga Madaki of years of neglect under past administrations asked, “remember, you have had area council chairman before. Did anybody remember Tunga Madaki settlement? Remember the man who remembered you during the rainy season. Do you understand? Remember the man who remembered you during the rainy season. All those who have nothing to offer you, tell them, where were they when nobody remembered you, to connect you to even the airport that you own the land. Today, you can drive, by the grace of God, link up to the Bill Clinton drive and you are at the airport.”
Earlier, Wike had flagged off the construction of a 7-kilometre road with four-span bridges linking Tunga Madaki and eight surrounding settlements, saying the project was a direct outcome of land compensation for the second Abuja runway.
“Sometimes ago, when Ministry of Aviation was to pay compensation to the settlement as regards to the second runway, one of the things that the communities asked for, that they have to be connected, they have to be linked up with roads. It is quite unfair that they are releasing their land for a second runway, but yet they have no access to even go to the airport? It does not make sense,” he said.
“Because Aviation also has to do with security, I had to take this matter to Mr. President, and Mr. President said, whatever the settlement ask for, give it to them. Today, the 29th of September 2025, we are here to the glory of God and to fulfill the promise made by Mr. President to the people of Tunga Madaki settlement. This road is not less than seven kilometers with four span bridges.”
He disclosed that the project, awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), will be completed and inaugurated in June 2026 to coincide with President Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.
“My dear good people of Tunga Madaki, this is a government for the first time in your life, for the first time you have come to a government and the government said, what you are looking for, the only request you have made, which is a reasonable request, we must have to attend to you.
Today we are attending to you. What does it show? It shows you the government of Mr. President is a listening government. It’s a government that cares for the people. It’s a government that made promise and fulfilled the promise made.”
Wike added that the road would transform nine communities previously abandoned and unknown.
“You can imagine what will happen by next year, June, when this road will be completed. You can imagine what development will look like here,” he said.
On her part, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, noted that by providing an alternative access route that bypasses the airport second runway, the project would significantly ease traffic along Bill Clinton Drive, enhance security and convenience for airport users, and open up Tunga Madaki and adjoining settlements to socio-economic opportunities.
According to her, “More importantly, the inclusion of a 4-span bridge demonstrates the administration’s determination to ensure resilience and durability in our infrastructure, while also guaranteeing seamless connectivity for motorists and residents.”
