President Bola Tinubu has promised that his government won't stop until every corner of the Federal Capital Territory — from the city centre to the farthest settlement — enjoys the dividends of democracy.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during the commissioning of the Kuje-Airport Expressway, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the administration would push development outward to the area councils so that peripheral districts aren't left behind.

"We shall not rest until the dividends of democracy are equitably distributed across the territory, from the ceremonial heart of Abuja to the settlements that sustain its daily life," Tinubu said.

The 9.5-kilometre road connects Kuje to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, cutting travel time between Kuje and the city centre. It also links to other major roads and provides an alternative route to Gwagwalada and parts of Nasarawa State.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said the road has restored hope to residents and opened up the area for economic growth. He recalled that when the current FCT Administration took over, insecurity and poor infrastructure were major concerns in Kuje and other area councils.

"Extensive consultations were held with traditional rulers, political leaders, and stakeholders across the six area councils to identify their most pressing needs," Wike said. The Kuje Expressway was one of the key requests — community leaders asked the government to revive the abandoned project and improve access.

The contract was awarded in 2022, according to Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority. The project goes beyond road construction — it includes drainage systems and bridges to improve connectivity.

Tinubu described the airport corridor as "the handshake of the Federal Republic of Nigeria" and said communities around it "must not be treated as forgotten settlements beside national monuments." He praised Wike as a trusted hand for making the project a reality, saying "leadership is best measured by completed work, not by decorated files."

The President urged residents to protect the road as a shared inheritance, calling public assets "a covenant between government and citizens."

Minister of State for FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmud, said the infrastructure development across the territory demonstrates Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

Also present at the event were Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Senator Philip Aduda; federal legislators; and top FCT officials.

"When the road to the airport works, the economy breathes better. When the communities around it are connected, the people feel seen."

— President Bola Tinubu

The Kuje Expressway is part of a broader push by the FCT Administration to improve infrastructure in the six area councils — Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Abuja Municipal Area Council. Wike has made area council development a priority since taking office in 2023.