Tinubu Commissions New Jahi-Gwarimpa Road Link

By Toffa Momoh | Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially commissioned the newly completed interchange at the Arterial Road N16 / Ring Road II intersection, creating a seamless link between Jahi and Gwarimpa districts in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The commissioning was the 12th project in a 31-day itinerary marking the third anniversary of the administration. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, represented the President at the event.

“This Intersection Used to Choke Abuja” – Tinubu
Delivering the President’s keynote address, Senator Akpabio said the interchange and its slip roads are a direct product of the “Renewed Hope Agenda” and part of a nationwide drive to revamp public infrastructure.

He noted that the project will ease movement, improve security, and save residents valuable time. According to him, the gridlock that once plagued Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi, and Gwarimpa, causing lost man-hours and business delays, has now ended.

“This intersection used to choke Abuja. Gridlock stretched from Maitama to Gishiri, from Jahi to Gwarimpa. Hours were lost. Fuel was wasted. Businesses were delayed. Today, that story ends,” Tinubu said.

“This interchange opens up critical districts of the Federal Capital City… Goods will now move faster. Workers will get home earlier. Students will get to class on time. Security will improve because criminals thrive where traffic stands still.”

The President thanked residents of Jahi, Gwarimpa, Katampe, and adjoining communities for their patience during construction. He urged them to protect the facility and meet their tax obligations to sustain development.

Tinubu also commended FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, CON, for “making Abuja work” and for extending the Renewed Hope Agenda from the city centre to satellite towns. He also praised the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the FCTA team, and contractors, CBC Global Civil Construction Nig. Ltd., for on-schedule delivery and job creation for youths.

“Good Roads Are the Prerequisite for Everything” – Akpabio
Speaking for himself, the Senate President defended the administration’s focus on roads, saying they are essential to accessing healthcare, education, and markets. He argued that if past governments had prioritized infrastructure over reliance on air travel, resources would have been better utilized.

Akpabio also lauded Tinubu’s macroeconomic reforms, saying revenue diversification has enabled governors to pay salaries and execute projects without borrowing. He added that the National Assembly is working on constitutional reforms to place security on the concurrent list to enable state police.

Wike: “We Did Not Abandon the Project”
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said the Jahi-Gwarimpa interchange was awarded two days before Tinubu’s inauguration in May 2023, without mobilization funds. He said the decision not to abandon it reflects a new culture of continuity in governance.

He faulted the old practice of discarding predecessors’ projects and said the completion proves the administration puts development above political ego. Responding to the ADC’s claim that “citizens cannot eat roads alone,” Wike said roads are the bedrock of development.

“How can citizens access hospitals, schools, or farms without proper transport networks? Under President Tinubu, Nigerians can now drive freely along these corridors,” he stated.

Wike also listed other achievements: a recently commissioned water project in Karu and another slated for Bwari on July 14. He further disclosed that while only about 4,000 Certificates of Occupancy, C of O, were signed in the FCT between 2010 and 2023, the current administration has signed no fewer than 25,000 C of Os in three years, unlocking capital and improving ease of doing business.

Economic and Technical Significance
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the interchange as an “economic nexus” linking businesses across Abuja.

FCDA Acting Executive Secretary, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, said the project awarded to CBC Global in May 2023 included: a dual carriageway on Arterial N16 from Jahi to Gwarimpa, two 4-span interchange bridges, 750m of ramps, 1.6km retaining walls, 1.5km of 2-lane service roads on Ring Road II, culverts, concrete drains, and underground services for stormwater, sewer, telecoms ducts, and streetlights.

CBC Global MD, Alhaji Umar Yahaya, said the site, formerly a bushy area used by criminals, is now a lit, safe, modern corridor.