Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has named the 3.2-kilometer Arterial Road and Bridge at Shagari/Satellite Quarters, Kwali, after the late Nigeria’s famous potter, Ladi Kwali.
Inaugurating the road on Tuesday in Kwali, Abuja, the minister described Ms. Kwali as one who used her creativity to bring fame, not only to the FCT but also to the entire nation.
While the road had been abandoned for over 14 years, the bridge was abandoned in the last 20 years but was built within three months by Mr. Wike.
Addressing a crowd of jubilant residents and FCT officials, Wike said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu knew no religion, tribe or political affiliation.
Promising to deliver three strategic roads to the people of Kwali Area Council, Wike said he would also ensure adequate illumination of the roads by providing solar-powered street lights.
He said; “This road has been abandoned for how many years now? What you see today is the renewed hope agenda we are talking about. I am sure that most of you must have lost hope that you took your fate into your own hands, since no government will want to feel your plight. So you have to manage to fend for your people, but as Mr. President said, do not lose hope, as he is here to bring your hope back. And from what he has done on this road today, it indeed shows hope is coming back to our people.
“It is not about parties, but Nigerians; it is about you, the Kwali people; it is about you, the Abuja people. Because, there is no one particular party that will use this road, and that is what is important to Mr. President. It doesn’t matter where you belong, his ambition, and vision are to make Nigerians believe that their hope must come back, and that is why we have done what we have done today.
“This is not the only road we are doing in Kwali, your chairman has announced the one that we are going to flag off soon, and there is another one that is going on.
“So, in this year alone, Kwali will have nothing less than three roads. This was not like that before. So Mr. President has brought back hope to all of us.
“Before the Chairman even asked, Mr. President had told me that for a popular Abuja person who has in one way contributed to the development of Abuja, it is very important that charity begin from home and that this road be named Ladi Kwali Road.
“Secondly, Mr. President asked me when this road was being done, what about the illumination, which is to provide security? I said it was not part of it. Mr. President has directed that I make sure that solar light is provided on this road. So, that is why we are saying that when you have the right leadership, you will get good results. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what is important is, is this person committed? I can tell you that Mr. President is committed to changing the lives of all of us and giving us hope that was lost. Yes, I know you were impatient, I know you want everything today, I can assure you, you can see that a good dance starts with the right step, and you can see that Mr. President has started with a good step, and you are going to see a good dance.”.
Earlier, Kwali Area Council Chairman, Danladi Chiya said the road leads from the Kwali main town to the Abuja-Lokoja highway.
While expressing gratitude to the Minister on behalf of the people, he said that for over 14 years, the road was impassable.
“This project has renewed our hope in Mr. President because, before now, we had lost hope, but now, he has brought hope to my people,” he said.
Chiya praised the minister for honouring the late Kwali, saying while a road was named after her in the United Kingdom and a street in Abuja’s city centre, nothing had been named after her in her own hometown, Kwali.
The talented porter who died in 1984 is the only known woman to have appeared on any Nigerian currency, the twenty-naira note.
