President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday declared an end to Nigeria’s long-standing culture of abandoned public projects as he commissioned the main carriageways of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX), stretching from Ring Road I Junction to Ring Road II Junction in Abuja.
The President, who was represented at the ceremony by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said the completion of the strategic infrastructure reflected his administration’s determination to deliver projects that directly impact economic growth and citizens’ welfare.
“We don’t start projects to abandon them. The era of uncompleted projects in Nigeria is fading away. We finish what we start, and even finish the ones we did not start,” Tinubu said.
He described infrastructure as the foundation of economic transformation, stressing that road development remains central to job creation, commerce and improved living standards.
“What we are doing here today goes far beyond laying asphalt or mixing concrete. We are paving the way for a brighter future. Infrastructure is the very artery of economic growth. If you want to unlock the potential of a city, if you want to create jobs, if you want to make life easier for the market woman, the corporate worker and the industrialist, you build roads,” he said.
Tinubu recalled that the OSEX project had progressed in phases, beginning with the Villa Roundabout to Ring Road I segment commissioned in 2024, followed by the 15-kilometre service carriageway in 2025, with the latest section now completing a critical transport corridor in the capital.
He commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for what he called “focused and result-oriented leadership,” saying the transformation of Abuja was evidence of effective governance.
“The structural transformation we are witnessing in the Federal Capital Territory is a testament to what happens when you have focus, vision and dynamic leadership. I want to commend the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and his entire team for their commitment and dogged determination in reshaping the FCT for long-term prosperity,” he said.
Turning directly to the minister, Tinubu added: “You have shown that public service is about performance, not excuses. You have kept the contractors on their toes and you have kept our vision alive. This is the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda delivering quality results for the Nigerian people on time.”
According to him, the completed road will ease congestion, reduce transport costs and expand economic activity across Abuja’s Apo–Wasa corridor.
Earlier, Wike credited the project’s delivery to strong political will and contractor efficiency, noting that he personally supervised execution closely.
“I asked them a simple question: can you deliver this project? I told them I wanted it ready for Mr. President’s third anniversary. They said yes. I asked again because I was not comfortable considering the scope of the work, the dual carriageway, culverts and bridges. They assured me they would deliver, and today they have kept their promise,” Wike said.
He disclosed that he visited the project site more than ten times to ensure compliance with timelines and standards.
“This means that nothing is impossible if we are determined and committed to achieving results. With proper understanding between government and contractors, and with government fulfilling its obligations, we can achieve a lot,” he added.
Wike said the project aligned with the administration’s commitment to continuity, stressing that inherited projects were being completed rather than abandoned.
“We did say every project we inherited, we are going to continue with it and finish it. That’s the essence of leadership. One of the criteria of good leadership is continuity of projects initiated by other administrations, not just projects initiated by you,” he said.
He noted that about 80 per cent of completed FCT projects under the current administration were inherited from previous governments.
“Some people would have said there is no need for that, let us start our own projects. But Mr. President understands that these projects are funded with public resources and government is a continuum. We cannot abandon projects littered across the FCT,” he said.
Wike also announced that infrastructure has been provided at the relocation site for traders and artisans at Apo Mechanic Village, while listing ongoing and completed projects across satellite towns such as Kwali, Karu and Kubwa.
“Sometimes it baffles me when people say nothing is happening in this country. Are we doing all these things in heaven or here on earth where people are living?” he asked.
Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as a milestone in Abuja’s transformation, commending both Tinubu and Wike for sustained infrastructure development efforts.
The newly completed OSEX carriageway is expected to improve mobility, reduce travel time and strengthen Abuja’s urban transport network under the Federal Capital Territory’s broader modernization agenda.
