President Bola Tinubu has urged residents and business owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to pay their taxes, land fees and ground rents, saying sustained infrastructure development in Abuja depends on citizens meeting their civic obligations.
The President made the call on Thursday while commissioning the full-scope development of Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way), from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III in Dape District, Abuja.
Addressing residents during the ceremony, Tinubu stressed that development was a shared responsibility between the government and the people, noting that public compliance with tax and revenue obligations would enable the FCT Administration to undertake more projects.
“As we celebrate, let us remember: development is a partnership. Government provides infrastructure. Citizens provide civic responsibility.
“To the residents and business owners enjoying this transformation, I urge you to meet your obligations. Pay your taxes. Clear your land fees and ground rents. Your compliance gives the FCT Administration the strength to build more roads like this one.” He said
Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President, Ibrahim Shettima, spoke after commissioning the completed road project, which he described as a fulfilment of a promise made by his administration when the first phase of the corridor, the Gwarinpa I District section, was inaugurated in June 2025.
According to him, “On that day, we pledged to you. We promised not to leave this vital artery half-done. Because the Renewed Hope Agenda is not about abandoned projects, it is about delivery from start to finish.
“And so today, we are back. We are back to close the circle. We are back to commission the Dape District Section of Arterial Road N5, from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III.”
The President emphasised that the project was initiated, funded and completed under his administration.
“Let us be clear about this: we did not inherit this section from decades past. We conceived it, we funded it, and we delivered it. It was awarded to Julius Berger with a strict 15-month deadline and flagged off in October 2024,” he said.
Tinubu also praised the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for ensuring the timely delivery of the project.
“In the past, projects like this became permanent budget lines, ten, fifteen years of excuses. Not under this administration. And certainly not under the watch of the ‘Engine of Execution’ himself, the Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike.”
He further commended the construction firm for its performance, saying: “Minister Wike, you and your team have shown what happens when political will meets accountability. We fund projects to see results, not to listen to grammar. I also commend Julius Berger for matching speed with world-class engineering.”
Highlighting the significance of the road, Tinubu described it as an economic corridor that would ease movement and boost commercial activities across key districts of the capital city.
He noted that the completion of the N5 corridor had created “a fluid, high-speed link connecting Dape, Karmo, Gwarinpa I, Kado, Idu, and Mbora” while also providing direct access to the Idu Industrial District, thereby reducing logistics costs, attracting investments and creating jobs.
The President also called on traditional rulers, community leaders and youths in Dape and surrounding communities to protect the infrastructure from vandalism.
“This road belongs to you. Protect it. Guard the streetlights. Keep the drainage clear. Do not allow vandals to destroy what we built with our collective resources. Be custodians of your own progress,” he said, before officially commissioning the Dape District Section of Arterial Road N5 to the benefit of Nigerians.
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