FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike Delivers on Promise of Accessible Roads for Gwagwalada Community

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has fulfilled his promise of providing accessible roads to Abuja residents, particularly those in the Gwagwalada community.

At least 70 communities in the Gwagwalada Area Council have regained connection to other parts of the Federal Capital Territory after successfully completing the Paikon Kore-Ibwa Road.

Villages between Paikonkore and Ibwa had been largely cut off due to the severely deteriorated road and the bridge’s collapse linking the two communities.

However, the narrative has changed for the better with the construction of a 9km access road, funded by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, launched the project in February 2024, directing the contractor to ensure timely completion. Residents in the affected areas, mostly farmers, say the new road has significantly improved their lives by providing better access to markets across the FCT, where they can now sell their produceG

In an interview with Kristina Reports, a resident who simply identified himself as Mohammmed explained that he had been living in the area for aout 1 years and always struggled to transport his goods into town because of the bad roads. He expressed happiness at the new development as less crops would go to waste now.

“”I am very very happy about what the minister has done. It has been a lobg time since i lived here and this road has always been like this. So whenever i harvest my carrots and pepper, sometimes they will just stay here and spoil because the bad road will not allow me to take it to town.”

Speaking on the project’s impact, the Community Liaison Officer, Ibrahim Maikeri, shared that over 70 communities along the road have felt the positive effects of the reconstruction.

“This road has existed since before the FCT was created in 1976, but it hadn’t seen any proper maintenance for decades. That left it in terrible condition and made life difficult for residents, particularly farmers trying to sell their goods beyond Paikonkore,” Maikeri explained.

“Now, as you can see, the road has been completely transformed. This transformation is thanks to God and the Honourable FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who prioritized this project for Gwagwalada and specifically remembered the people of Paikonkore and Ibwa.”

“For years, the poor state of the road affected every aspect of life here. Farmers couldn’t transport their goods to larger markets in Gwagwalada and surrounding areas. But with this new road, communities can now interact more freely, bring their produce to market with ease, and even address some of the security challenges we’ve faced in the past.”

Maikeri also commended the FCT Administration for reconstructing the bridge linking Paikonkore and Ibwa.

He highlighted that students from the communities now have a safer and easier route to schools in neighbouring villages.