President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has named a major road in Abuja after Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
This came in the series of project commissioning at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to mark the president’s one year in office.
The road formally called “Arterial Road N-20” and stretches from Northern Parkway, connecting the Airport Road to Outer Northern Expressway and popularly known as Kubwa Express Way, is now known as Wole Soyinka Road.
The road was commissioned in Abuja on Tuesday by the president.
Tinubu said that the 3.5km six-lane road in Jahi District, is an actualisation of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transform every part of the nation.
He described Soyinka as Nigeria’s outstanding playwright, novelist and Nobel prize winner who had made Nigeria proud in the international community.
He said: “Let me say here that your momentum and recommendation to name this road after Wole Soyinka Way is well received. Thank you for thinking that way. We all accept your recommendation on behalf of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
While commending the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for his development passion, Tinubu also noted that he was an inspiration to many. “You inspire so many people. The saying that ‘Wike is working’ is resonating with all of us.”
“Today, there is a great value in Abuja’s capital territory, talking about every part of Abuja, bringing economic prosperity to people. I wonder what it would be like the value of your IGR when the real estate is the real value of Abuja,” Tinubu said.
“To the Honourable minister of FCT and his entire team, my presence here is to say thank you very much for giving this government a very successful first-year landing,” Tinubu said.
While delivering his address, Wike said: “When you do that, you encourage other people too that tomorrow the government will also recognise them for doing well. It is not when somebody dies that we will remember his contribution.”
“It is good that when someone is alive and has contributed and has made this country happy, recognise him, instead of waiting for when he dies. A dead man does not know what happens. So, I will appeal to you that let us recognise one of our own, to name this road after him who has done well,” he added.
“The only Nobel Laureate we have that has made Nigeria proud in the world. I recommend that this road should be named “Wole Soyinka Way.” In that case, other people will have hope. People like me will have hope that tomorrow, they will also recognize me,” he said.
Wike disclosed that the road was awarded in 2020 at the contract sum of N30.6 billion.
He added that it is the only road project that his administration completed without contract cost variation.
