POLITICAL Economy

FCT Community Gets Long-Awaited Infrastructure Boost

by admin on | 2026-06-18 15:00:20

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FCT Community Gets Long-Awaited Infrastructure Boost

By Abdullahi Muhammad, Abuja

Residents of Tungan Madaki, a rural community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Thursday expressed excitement over the construction of an access road linking them to other parts of the territory.

The residents and neighbouring communities said they were excited because it was the first time they would experience the presence of government in their community.

They said the newly constructed seven-kilometre access road from Airport Road (Bill Clinton Drive) to the community by the President Bola Tinubu administration has reconnected farmers and students in the area to their livelihoods.

The District Head of the community, Malam Muhammad Haruna, speaking on the sidelines of the official inauguration of the road, said the development would change their lives for the better. Haruna commended President Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for bringing governance to their doorsteps and taking steps to improve their livelihoods.

He said that for decades, daily life in the community had been characterised by isolation, economic stagnation, and inaccessibility to schools.

“We are happy that this narrative has completely changed. The completion of this critical road, linking Bill Clinton Drive directly to the heart of my community has brought widespread relief and celebration among my people.

“This is a turning point in the history of our community after years of administrative neglect by successive governments. Prior to this intervention, the community’s agrarian economy was severely bottlenecked by a dilapidated road network and absence of a memorable bridge that cut us from the rest of FCT, especially during the rainy season.

“We have suffered for decades. It has not been easy for us to transport our produce from the farms to the community, let alone to external markets, but today we are joyful that our story has changed,” he said.

The traditional ruler said the new infrastructure now connects local farms to consumer hubs, reducing transport costs and improving farm-to-market logistics.

He added that post-harvest losses would also reduce significantly, a development that would increase farmers’ earnings and, in the long run, improve their livelihoods.

He further said that beyond the economic impact, the new road would also resolve the severe seasonal education challenges in the community. He explained that Tungan Madaki hosts a major senior secondary school meant to serve a wide cluster of neighbouring communities.

However, he said that during the rainy season, the collapsed bridge and washed-out terrain made trekking too dangerous, preventing students from neighbouring communities from accessing the school.

“The completion of this road project has permanently restored safe and daily access to the school, eliminating seasonal drop-out rates caused by hazardous infrastructure.”

He added that while celebrating the milestone, the community leadership noted that full empowerment requires addressing a few remaining structural challenges.

To complement improved mobility, Haruna appealed to Wike to provide potable drinking water to the communities, which remains a critical missing link for residents’ health and wellbeing.

“Also, farming is our only means to feed ourselves, send our children to school, and afford basic living expenses. Therefore, safeguarding local farmlands is the final step to ensuring that the people of Tungan Madaki can fully reap the dividends of democracy,” he said.

The FCT Minister had explained that the project was executed in line with President Tinubu’s commitment to connecting rural communities with road infrastructure. He said the access road, which includes a four-span bridge, would connect nine communities and terminate at Zuba Road.