Abuja’s seven kilometer Tungan Madaki-Zuba road to unlock FCT’s next investment corridor — Tinubu

The construction of the 7-kilometre Tungan Madaki-Zuba road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is expected to open a new investment corridor for housing, education, healthcare and industrial development, President Bola Tinubu has said.

Tinubu, represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, stated this on Monday in Abuja during the inauguration of the road project by the FCT Administration.

The President said the project aligns with the vision of developing the FCT as a national capital where satellite towns and gateway communities are fully integrated through modern infrastructure.

According to him, the Tungan Madaki-Zuba corridor is strategically important as it will ease pressure on Abuja’s city centre, provide alternative routes for commuters and strengthen economic activities along the Abuja-Kaduna-North West axis.

“This road sends a clear signal to investors that this axis is open for housing, schools, health facilities and industries,” Tinubu said.

He noted that communities along the corridor, including Tungan Madaki and Zuba, have remained important contributors to Abuja’s economy through farming, trading and other economic activities, despite years of poor road connectivity.

The President said the new road would improve movement of people and goods by linking Tungan Madaki directly to the Abuja-Kaduna Road, reducing travel time, lowering vehicle operating costs and improving access to markets.

The project is part of the FCT Administration’s broader infrastructure drive to connect satellite towns and area councils with the city centre, according to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Wike said the project was initiated following concerns raised by the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council over the need for a direct connection between Zuba and Abuja to reduce commuting challenges for residents.

Upon completion, residents of Zuba and surrounding communities will have improved access to Abuja and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport without passing through Gwagwalada, the minister said.

He added that the administration was pushing for the project to be completed and delivered by December as part of efforts to fast-track infrastructure development across the territory.

The FCT Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud, said the road would extend economic opportunities to underserved communities by improving connectivity, stimulating commerce and attracting new investments along the corridor.

Earlier, Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), said the road would connect Bill Clinton Drive to the Federal Highway A2 (Kaduna-Abuja-Lokoja highway) through Zuba.

He said the project would also provide access to communities including Tungan Wakili, Angwan Ashere, Tungan Jawa, Tungan Nasara, Tungan Samu, Ammawa and Jawa.

Dauda added that the new link would create an alternative route for travellers from Zuba, Kaduna and Kogi states heading to the airport, while opening up agricultural areas, improving security and supporting further development of the FCT’s emerging aerotropolis zone.