President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, urged residents and business owners in Abuja to pay their taxes, ground rents, and other financial obligations, saying compliance is necessary for the Federal Capital Territory Administration to sustain infrastructure development across the nation’s capital.
The president said residents who benefit from ongoing road projects and other public infrastructure must also meet their civic obligations to enable government fund additional development across the territory.
Tinubu, who gave the advice during the commissioning of the Dape District section of Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way), from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III, said the project was part of efforts by his administration to improve connectivity, boost economic activities and deliver on the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima said, “To the residents and business owners enjoying this transformation, I urge you to meet your obligations. Pay your taxes. Clear your land fees and ground rents. Your compliance gives the FCT Administration the strength to build more roads like this one.”
He described the road as a critical economic corridor that would ease traffic congestion, improve connectivity and support business activities, particularly around the Idu Industrial District.
“For too long, Life Camp Junction was a daily test of patience. Every morning and evening, hardworking Nigerians lose productive hours in gridlock. Today, we have broken that bottleneck.
“With the completion of this N5 corridor, we are delivering the seamless district connectivity envisioned in the Abuja Master Plan. We now have a fluid, high-speed link connecting Dape, Karmo, Gwarinpa I, Kado, Idu, and Mbora.”
The president also said the project reflected his administration’s commitment to completing infrastructure projects rather than leaving them abandoned.
“Let us be clear about this: we did not inherit this section from decades past. We conceived it, we funded it, and we delivered it.
“In the past, projects like this became permanent budget lines — ten, fifteen years of excuses.
Not under this administration. And certainly not under the watch of the “Engine of Execution” himself, the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike.”
Earlier, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said the administration had expanded infrastructure development beyond Abuja city centre to communities that had long been neglected.
“I can say for the first time that development has been taken to the satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory. This is unprecedented,” Wike said.
According to him, residents of many satellite communities are now experiencing the impact of government through visible infrastructure projects.
“Before this period, satellite towns did not know what they call government. They had no impact from government. But today, they can feel the impact, the presence of government,” he said.
Wike noted that project commissioning activities have expanded steadily since Tinubu assumed office, from nine days during the administration’s first anniversary to 31 days this year, which he said reflects the scale of infrastructure delivery in the territory.
On her part, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the road as another milestone under the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying it demonstrates the administration’s commitment to improving connectivity, stimulating economic growth and enhancing residents’ quality of life.
She also commended Wike’s leadership in driving infrastructure development across the territory and thanked traditional rulers, community leaders and residents of Life Camp, Dape and neighbouring communities for supporting the successful execution of the project.
