Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has credited internally generated revenue from ground rent as a key driver behind the capital city’s expanding infrastructure, citing it as the lifeline for development in the absence of oil revenues.
Speaking during the commissioning of the newly completed Apo–Wassa axis of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) II on Friday, Wike emphasized that the government’s enforcement of ground rent payments has made a tangible difference in Abuja’s landscape.
“This 15-kilometre stretch wasn’t magic. It’s what ground rent paid for,” Wike said, urging residents to see firsthand the transformation at Wassa Junction. He noted that these revenues have helped revive abandoned projects and fund critical road expansions.
The minister also announced upcoming plans to dualize busy routes and relocate informal businesses like roadside mechanics to ease traffic congestion and support urban planning goals.
Wike used the event to address the controversy surrounding the recent renaming of the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja after President Bola Tinubu. Critics had questioned the timing and motivation behind the change, with some arguing the honour should have gone to the original builder.
In response, Wike defended the move, saying it reflected Nigeria’s need to recognize impactful leadership. “We changed everything in that centre except the block work,” he said, asserting that the transformation justified the tribute. He added that it is not unusual to name public structures after notable figures regardless of their involvement in their construction, referencing the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport and the Moshood Abiola Stadium as examples.
According to Wike, the renaming aligns with global practices and symbolizes the country’s aspiration to maintain its status as Africa’s leading nation.
