By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
President Bola Tinubu has declared that no Nigerian community should be sacrificed in the name of national development, insisting that affected residents must be adequately compensated and supported whenever government projects impact their livelihoods.
The President made the declaration on Thursday while commissioning the seven-kilometre Tunga Madaki–Second Runway Bypass Road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Represented at the event by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu said his administration remains committed to ensuring that infrastructure development improves the lives of citizens rather than creating hardship for host communities.
He explained that when concerns from residents affected by the Second Runway project were brought to his attention by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, he immediately directed that measures be taken to address their needs.
“Let me state this clearly: no citizen should be made a victim of national development. When this issue was brought to my attention, my directive was simple: whatever the communities require to restore and improve their lives should be provided. We do not just take from communities; we build, replace and uplift them,” he said.
The President described the completion of the road as another milestone in the administration’s commitment to infrastructure delivery, noting that the project was approved in February 2025 and completed within 16 months.
According to him, the project demonstrates the government’s resolve to deliver quality infrastructure without unnecessary delays.
Tinubu also appealed to residents to protect the road by avoiding illegal developments along the right-of-way and maintaining proper sanitation around the facility.
While acknowledging the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, he commended residents for their patience and support, assuring them that ongoing reforms would ultimately deliver long-term benefits.
Speaking at the event, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike announced the immediate extension of the road from Tunga Madaki to Zuba to further improve access between satellite communities and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Wike said the additional road project is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
He noted that residents of rural communities deserve the same level of infrastructure and government attention as those living in the city centre.
“Today is special because development has reached the people directly. The residents of Tunga Madaki can now feel the impact of governance and see the benefits of government policies,” he said.
The minister also warned land grabbers against taking advantage of the new road corridor to dispossess indigenous communities of their land.
According to him, the FCT Administration will issue Certificates of Occupancy to legitimate community landowners to protect their interests.
Wike further pledged employment opportunities for youths from the community, saying the government would continue to honour commitments made to local leaders.
He assured residents that President Tinubu’s administration would sustain efforts to bring more development projects to underserved communities across the FCT.
