President Bola Tinubu has said that no citizen should be made a victim of national development, adding that national progress must not come at the expense of ordinary citizens.

Mr Tinubu stated this in Abuja on Thursday while inaugurating the newly constructed seven-kilometre access road, from Bill Clinton Drive to Tungan Madaki, bypassing the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The president, represented by the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, explained that the connected communities had been cut off for years from the economic heart of the Federal Capital Territory.

He said that when it became necessary to construct the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the original inhabitants of the area willingly surrendered their ancestral lands.

He said, “They sacrificed for the collective good of the entire nation, and for this, yet they had no motorable road for their own feet and their own vehicles and motorcycles. They were cut off from the FCT and from the very airport they gave up their lands to witness.

“Let me state this clearly: no citizen should be made a victim of national development. When the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, brought this matter to my attention, my directive was clear and unequivocal – ‘whatever the communities ask for to make their lives better and whole, give it to them.’

“My administration will not only take from the communities; we will build the communities. We shall also replace, and we will also elevate, the standard of living of the communities. Today, I must say that we have fulfilled that solemn promise.”

He said that the seven-kilometre access road is not just an engineering strip of tar but an economic artery.

He added that the project would ease traffic, particularly the gridlock along Bill Clinton Drive, providing seamless convenience for airport users and travellers.

“More importantly, we are unlocking the economic potential of Tungan Madaki and the surrounding communities, and by implication, Zuba.

“The road also guarantees that, whether in the height of the dry season or the peak of the rains, our farmers can move their produce, our children can go to schools, and businesses can thrive without disruption.

“That is what the Renewed Hope Agenda of my administration is all about: reducing hardship by building infrastructure that works for the people,” he said.

Mr Tinubu commended Mr Wike and his team, saying, “In February 2025, I approved this project. You mobilised immediately, and today, barely 16 months later, this beautiful stretch of road is completed and ready for use. No excuses; no stories. Just delivery.

“That is the standard Nigerians deserve, and that is the standard this administration will maintain and continue to give to all Nigerians.”

In his remarks, Mr Wike explained that instead of requesting monetary compensation, the community requested road and job opportunities for their children.

He said, “And by the grace of God, we have given them. I never believed that we have this level of suffering by people not having access to the city.

“This community has lost hope. They don’t believe in the government, but because of this administration, hope has returned to them. Now they can feel the impact of the government; now they know what governance is all about.

“I feel happy that under the leadership of Tinubu, we are given the opportunity to be part of this history that is changing the

narrative in rural communities.”

According to him, the road connects two area councils, Abuja Municipal Area and Gwagwalada Area Councils and will enable easy access to the airport from Zuba.

He disclosed that a contract has been awarded to extend the road to Zuba, adding that it would be completed in December.

He, however, warned land grabbers against taking advantage of the road to defraud the people, saying, “Allow the community to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

“To the community, we will give you a certificate of occupancy for all lands where you belong.” 

(NAN)