By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory to use the 2027 general elections to elect leaders capable of sustaining and expanding ongoing infrastructure development across the territory.
Wike made the call in his Independence Day message to FCT residents on Thursday, 1 October, 2026, as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary, while highlighting road construction, public transportation, healthcare, education and security initiatives undertaken by the FCT Administration.
The minister said the administration remained committed to transforming Abuja into a world-class capital city through modern infrastructure and improved public services.
He described the FCT as a symbol of Nigeria’s unity, noting that Abuja brings together people from different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds who live and work in the nation’s capital.
Wike said Nigeria’s independence journey had demonstrated the resilience of its people and called for renewed commitment to the country’s growth and prosperity.
“Sixty-six years ago, our founding fathers laid the foundation for a sovereign nation built on the ideals of freedom, unity, and progress,” he said.
Turning to development in the FCT, the minister said the administration had invested heavily in critical infrastructure, particularly roads and public transportation, to extend development beyond Abuja’s city centre to communities across the territory.
He said the road network had been transformed from the city centre to remote rural communities, with projects incorporating drainage systems and solar-powered streetlights.
According to Wike, the infrastructure was designed not only to improve movement and connectivity but also to address security challenges in communities located far from the city centre.
He disclosed that ultramodern bus terminals had been constructed in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, while similar facilities were planned for Kuje, Bwari and Gwagwalada to provide residents with safer and more efficient transportation services.
The minister also said the administration was improving access to healthcare and education across the six area councils, stressing that a healthy and educated population was essential to sustainable development.
On security, Wike said the FCT Administration was working with security agencies to keep the territory safe, while surveillance had been intensified and community policing and modern technology deployed to combat crime.
Against this backdrop, he urged residents to approach the 2027 elections as an opportunity to determine the direction of infrastructure development in the territory.
“My dear residents, as the nation prepares for the forthcoming general elections in January 2027, I enjoin you all to see it as an opportunity to vote in progressive, visionary leaders that will sustain and expand the infrastructural revolution that has commenced in the FCT,” he said.
Wike further urged residents to support leaders with the vision and capacity to deliver more development and prosperity, stressing the importance of continuity in ongoing projects.
He also appealed to residents to remain law-abiding and protect public infrastructure from vandalism, while calling for peaceful coexistence among people living in the capital.
The minister urged residents to uphold tolerance and unity, saying collective responsibility remained essential to building an FCT capable of serving as a beacon of hope and prosperity.
“Together, we will build an FCT that we can all be proud of – a beacon of hope and prosperity for the entire African continent,” he said.
Wike expressed appreciation to FCT residents for their partnership and support for the administration, while praying for continued peace and prosperity in the territory and Nigeria.
