President says improved road network will cut post-harvest losses, connect farmers to markets and accelerate development across Abuja’s satellite communities….
President Bola Tinubu has described the newly completed Gomani–Dafa–Yangoji Road in Kwali Area Council as a major step toward transforming the area into one of the Federal Capital Territory’s leading food-producing hubs.
Speaking through Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the inauguration of the road in Dafa on Tuesday, the president said the project would significantly improve the movement of agricultural produce, reduce post-harvest losses and create better economic opportunities for rural communities.
According to him, easier access to farms and markets will not only benefit farmers but also strengthen food production across the FCT and neighbouring areas.
“With this road now open, farmers can move their produce much faster, buyers can access farms without unnecessary delays, and post-harvest losses will be drastically reduced,” Tinubu said.
He added that the project reflects the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ensure that infrastructure development reaches every part of the country rather than remaining concentrated in urban centres.
“Abuja cannot be a city of two worlds, one with modern infrastructure at the centre while satellite communities are left behind,” he said. “This road links Gomani, Dafa and Yangoji to markets, schools, hospitals and new opportunities. It is proof that every Nigerian deserves to benefit from national development, whether they live in the city or in a farming community.”
Tinubu noted that poor road infrastructure had for years limited the economic potential of rural communities, making it difficult for farmers to get their produce to market and forcing many young people to leave their hometowns in search of better opportunities elsewhere.
He said the completion of the road marks a turning point for communities along the corridor by improving access to essential services and stimulating local economic activities.
The president also praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for expanding infrastructure projects beyond Abuja’s city centre and into rural communities.
“You took my advice seriously by opening up the area councils and ensuring that development in the city is matched by development in rural communities. The people here can now see the impact of that commitment,” he said.
In his remarks, Wike explained that the road project originated from requests made by the Etsu Kwali, Luka Nizassan III, during one of the administration’s community engagement meetings designed to identify priority projects in the area councils.
According to the minister, the consultations were introduced in line with Tinubu’s directive that communities should have a direct say in determining the projects that affect them.
He recalled that during the engagement, the traditional ruler identified three critical road projects: the A2–Pai Road, Pai–Gomani Road and the Gomani–Dafa–Yangoji Road, covering about 43 kilometres in total.
“Today, by the grace of God, we have fulfilled every promise we made to this community,” Wike said.
He added that the president had consistently directed the FCT Administration to spread development beyond the city centre, noting that the Gomani–Dafa–Yangoji Road is the fourth project commissioned in satellite towns since the inauguration of projects began on June 9.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Satellite Towns Development Department, Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, said the project formed part of the 43.4-kilometre FCT Secondary Regional Road network awarded in November 2025.
He explained that the entire corridor begins from the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway (A2), passes through Pai and Gomani before terminating at Yangoji, creating two access points to the expressway.
According to him, the first phase from the A2 to Pai was completed and inaugurated in June 2025 as part of activities marking Tinubu’s second anniversary in office, while construction on the second phase between Pai and Gomani is ongoing.
He noted that the commissioning of the 13-kilometre Gomani–Dafa–Yangoji stretch marks the completion of the third segment of the regional road corridor.
