Lokpobiri: Even Wike’s Critics Can’t Deny He Has Changed Abuja’s Landscape

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has described the infrastructural development of Abuja over the past three years as unprecedented, saying even the strongest critics of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, must acknowledge his impact on the territory.

Lokpobiri spoke on Tuesday after joining Wike on an inspection of ongoing projects in the nation’s capital, including the construction of bridges on the ISEX 2 road, stretching from the Area 1 roundabout to the Games Village, the Southern Parkway linking Oladipo Diya Road with Lokogoma Road, and the S1 road at the Fire Station in Gaduwa.

The road projects are scheduled for commissioning next month and in January next year.

Lokpobiri, who said he had lived in Abuja for about 19 years, expressed surprise at the pace of construction and the level of completion of the projects.

“I never believed in my wildest dream that the roads that were flagged off in July, and we have already seen the level of completion,” he said.

He recalled arriving in Abuja in 2007 after being elected senator, noting that he had not witnessed a similar level of infrastructural development in the territory.

“I have been in Abuja for about 19 years now. I came to Abuja in 2007, when I was elected senator, and I have been here, and the level of development we have seen in Abuja is unprecedented.

“Those of you who are journalists in Abuja can attest to the fact that even if you don’t like the FCT minister, you will give it to him that he will do the infrastructure, that even you too will benefit from,” he said.

The minister disclosed that although he lives at the National Assembly quarters in Apo, approximately two kilometres from one of the bridges, he was unaware that the project was underway.

“This morning when I had the privilege of joining him to go around these projects, I was wondering, I said, when did this bridge start? Because I stay in the National Assembly quarters in Apo that is just about maybe two kilometres away, and I never knew that this project was going on. I never even knew that this road is going on,” he said.

Lokpobiri congratulated Wike and President Bola Tinubu, whom he credited with providing the FCT minister with the necessary support to execute the projects.

He urged Nigerians to acknowledge and encourage public officials when they deliver on their responsibilities, regardless of personal or political differences.

“I want to tell Nigerians that, look, when somebody is performing, you need to encourage the person. That is the least that you can do. Even if you don’t like him, you will give it to him that he has changed the landscape of Abuja, and it can only get better and better,” he added.