FCT Minister Wike reiterates need to pay taxes, as he flags-off construction of vital road in Asokoro, Abuja

By Anthony Maliki, Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has reiterated the need for residents to pay their taxes, citing better road infrastructure and social amenities.

Barrister Wike who stated this while officially flagging off the construction of the Mohammed Isa Road extension within the Asokoro District in Abuja, Tuesday, October 6, 2025, stressed that the ambitious infrastructure drive embarked upon by the FCTA was heavily dependent on the availability of resources and urged residents to pay their taxes and continue to support the President Bola Tinubu-led administration that is committed to changing their lives.

This was contained in a statement by Rabi Musa Umar, Assistant Director of Press in the Office of the Minister.

He likened the provision of good infrastructure to ‘good soup’, which cannot be provided without resources.

He said: “Pay us what you owe us. If soup sweet, na money kill am. If you don’t have the money to buy the various items when you are cooking the soup, it will look like ordinary water. But when you have money, all the medemede (ingredients) will be there. Even if you are not hungry, but because the soup attracts you, you will be forced to be hungry… So, all these good roads, good drainage systems won’t be possible if you don’t pay your tax. So, try to pay your taxes so that we can provide more of these roads”.

The Minister also revealed that prominent critics of President Bola Tinubu’s administration were now acknowledging his successful performance, particularly in infrastructure development within the nation’s capital. He said that the new road project was initiated following a direct appeal from a major critic of the present administration, who had appealed for infrastructure provision—specifically roads, drainage, and streetlights—in the Asokoro extension, similar to the work being done in other districts of the FCT.

Recalling their exchange, the Minister said, “I remember very well that one of the major critics of the present government of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu (I will not call his name), he came to me and said look, you have been providing infrastructure in terms of roads in all these other Districts. What about us in the Asokoro extension?”.

Barr. Wike affirmed that he is one of the agents of President Tinubu, whose task was to translate the President’s vision into action, adding that the FCT’s progress is a testament to the President’s effectiveness.

“We forget that Mr. President has agents or people who carry out his directives or instructions. You cannot say FCT is working and Mr. President is not working. Through us, we carry out the directives, we carry out the instruction, we carry out the vision of Mr. President, and one of the visions is that FCT must compete favorably with other cities of the world, and that is what we are doing”, the Minister said.

Noting that the Mohammed Isa Road extension flag-off was the 10th day of project flag-offs across the FCT in the current series covering roads and water projects, the Minister said the road will significantly enhance connectivity, improve the city’s landscape, and create employment for residents.

“Look at the topography, look at the landscape. By the time these roads are completed, the drainages are put in place, the streetlight is on; look at the employment that is being created. Every day, one company carries out one construction or the other. Tomorrow, we will be in another place where one company is carrying out another construction…Our teeming youths are all engaged in this. That is creation of employment”, the Minister stated.

While stressing the government’s commitment to ensuring that road infrastructure reaches all underserved areas in the FCT, the Minister also assured that the FCT administration was focused on comprehensive development across key sectors.

He said the FCTA, in addition to the 70 schools it is currently refurbishing, is set to flag off the rehabilitation of 40 new schools, adding that significant interventions have also been made in the transport sector, while the implementation of the capital budget for the health sector will commence soon. 

“We have touched transport, we have touched roads, we have touched education, now we are touching health. No sector will be left untouched. All you need is to be patient. And to be patient means, give us time”, Barr. Wike said.

In her vote of thanks, the Acting Head of FCTA Civil Service, Nancy Nathan, thanked President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and consistency in realizing vital infrastructure projects, and stressed that the road initiative in Asokoro will foster social and commercial integration while also positively impacting the overall development of the capital territory.

Providing an overview of the project, the Acting Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda said the contract for the Mohammed Isa Road extension was awarded to Messrs. Global Spectrum Energy Services Limited with a completion period of 14 months, adding that the scope of work includes Construction of approximately 4 kilometers of roads along with the provision of modern drainage systems, Water Distribution Network, Sewer Line Network, Street Lighting, Power Supply, Telecommunication Ducts and other infrastructure services.

Engr. Dauda added that the project will provide essential engineering infrastructure, enhance interconnectivity, and improve security in the area and solicited the cooperation and support of residents for timely implementation.

Committing to the project delivery, the Project Manager for Global Spectrum PLC, Engr. Stanley Onyemeke, who spoke on behalf of the MD, Mr. Colm Doyle, thanked the Minister for trusting an indigenous contractor with the project and pledged to ensure that it is completed within the stipulated time frame and in accordance with recognized standards.