We will continue discussions with the Minister of Finance to ensure funds are released so the contractor can complete the project
By Moses Okorie
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured residents that the long-delayed Inner Southern Expressway, popularly known as Goodluck Jonathan Way, will be completed and delivered by December 2026.
Wike gave the assurance on Tuesday after inspecting the ongoing construction of the 10-kilometre expressway with the service carriageways of the Southern Parkway in Gaduwa District, Abuja.
The minister explained that the project, awarded in 2014, stretches from the Southern Parkway to Ring Road II at Galadimawa and includes five bridges. He noted that only four kilometres had been completed before the current administration, leaving the remaining six kilometres to be finished.
According to him, the project is one of the few inherited road contracts yet to be completed under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alongside the Apo-Karshi Road.
“The contractor has assured us that the remaining section will be completed and handed over by the end of December, subject to the availability of funds,” Wike said.
He described the expressway as a transformative infrastructure project that would significantly improve the road network and urban landscape of the Federal Capital Territory.
“We will continue discussions with the Minister of Finance to ensure funds are released so the contractor can complete the project. This road is critical to the development of the FCT and will change the entire landscape of the city,” he said.
Speaking on the Apo-Karshi Road, Wike said the project, awarded in 2010, was also nearing completion.
He stressed that completing inherited projects was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that projects initiated by previous administrations between 2010 and 2023 are not abandoned.
“It will be a remarkable achievement for this administration to complete all inherited projects rather than leave abandoned projects across the country. We are pleased with the progress made so far,” the minister said.
Wike also inspected the construction of the dual service carriageways of the Southern Parkway, extending from Arterial Road S20 (Oladipo Diya Way) in Gaduwa District to Ring Road II.
The Southern Parkway is one of Abuja’s most strategic transportation corridors, linking several densely populated residential districts across Phases I to IV of the Federal Capital City.
Expressing satisfaction with the pace of work, Wike said the contractor had reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the project by the end of December.