FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri inspect ongoing road and bridge projects in Abuja
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for the pace of infrastructure development in Abuja, describing the scale of ongoing projects as unprecedented.
Lokpobiri made the remarks on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, while accompanying Wike on an inspection tour of road and bridge projects across the capital.
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The projects inspected included the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX), covering the stretch from Area 1 Roundabout to the Games Village bridges; the Southern Parkway, linking Oladipo Diya Road with Ring Road II; and Arterial Road S1, which will connect Ring Road II to the FCT Fire Service Station through the Kaura and Gaduwa district corridors.
The petroleum minister said he had lived in Abuja since 2007, when he was elected to the Senate, and had witnessed several stages of the city's expansion. However, he described the current pace of project execution as exceptional.
He expressed particular surprise at the progress on the Southern Parkway, noting that construction had reached an advanced stage within approximately five months of its flag-off in July.
Lokpobiri also said the projects would benefit residents regardless of their political views about the FCT minister. He credited President Bola Tinubu's support for enabling Wike to pursue the administration's infrastructure programme.
Road Projects Target Improved Connectivity Across Abuja
The projects inspected form part of the FCT Administration's efforts to expand road infrastructure and improve connections between established neighbourhoods and developing districts.
The Inner Southern Expressway project is expected to improve movement between Area 1, the Games Village and adjoining parts of the capital. The Southern Parkway will strengthen links between Oladipo Diya Road and Ring Road II, while Arterial Road S1 will provide another connection through the Kaura and Gaduwa corridors.
These routes serve areas experiencing residential and commercial development, where road access plays an important role in mobility, land use and the attractiveness of property locations.
The projects also reflect the role of transport infrastructure in supporting Abuja's outward expansion. Improved connectivity can reduce travel constraints, open up development corridors and influence demand for residential and commercial property.
Infrastructure Delivery and Abuja's Property Market
The expansion of road networks has implications beyond reducing travel times. For property developers and investors, accessibility is a major consideration in assessing development opportunities, land values and the viability of new residential projects.
Improved connections to emerging districts can make previously less accessible locations more attractive for housing and commercial development. However, infrastructure delivery alone does not guarantee affordable housing or sustained property-market growth.
The wider impact will depend on complementary investments in electricity, water supply, drainage, public transport and other essential services, alongside effective land-use planning and development control.
For the FCT Administration, the challenge is to ensure that expanding road infrastructure supports coordinated urban growth rather than encouraging unplanned development and speculative increases in land prices.
Lokpobiri's commendation places renewed attention on the administration's infrastructure programme, although the long-term benefits will ultimately depend on project completion, quality, maintenance and the extent to which residents and businesses experience improved access.
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