Tinubu commissions Gishiri Road, reaffirms infrastructure as development catalyst

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the critical role of infrastructure in Nigeria’s economic transformation, stating it is “not a luxury, but a necessity.”

He made the remarks on Wednesday during the official commissioning of Gishiri Road in the Federal Capital Territory, a key route linking Shehu Shagari Way to Wole Soyinka Way through the Katampe District.

Speaking at the ceremony, Tinubu said infrastructure serves as the “bedrock of national competitiveness, growth, social integration, and economic opportunity,” and pledged continued investment under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“There’s no way industrialization will flourish without good roads. We are investing in roads, rail, power, healthcare, education, and digital infrastructure,” he said.

The newly commissioned project includes a major interchange and connects key districts such as Jahi, Mabushi, and Katampe. It is expected to reduce traffic congestion and stimulate residential and commercial development.

Tinubu commended the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for leading the project’s implementation and praised his collaborative leadership style.

“He could not achieve this alone without collaboration. Teamship is the hallmark of good leadership,” Tinubu noted, while lauding the peaceful relocation and compensation of residents.

Addressing concerns over land use, the President clarified that the government did not seize land forcefully. “You (Gishiri community) have been relocated, not that we grabbed the land. We want development, but how well we organize and execute it depends on us,” he said.