The original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are set to honour the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, with the Nigeria Infrastructure Minister of the Year Award on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
According to a statement released on Sunday by Samuel Aye, Secretary-General of the Karu Gbagyi Development Association, the award recognises Wike’s transformative contributions to the development of outer city districts and satellite towns across Abuja, Nigeria’s administrative capital.
Karu, the hometown of former federal lawmaker Senator Tanimu Aduda, described Wike as a minister committed to development who has “written his name in the annals of good governance” since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.
The statement read in part:
“FCT indigenes had never witnessed huge infrastructure developments all at once in outer city districts and satellite towns like those currently being undertaken under the administration of the current minister and President Bola Tinubu. Minister Wike is to be conferred with the award on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at a grand reception in his honour and that of other awardees at the Jummai Aduda Townhall in Karu District, Abuja.”
The event will also feature a public lecture on the FCT 2026 elections, to be delivered by Nigeria’s former Ambassador to The Gambia, Ambassador Ayuba Ngbako. Additionally, scholarships will be awarded to indigent persons, and an Empowerment Scheme will be launched for residents of Karu Chiefdom.
Okay News reports that the association highlighted several infrastructure projects attributed to Wike’s administration. These include the completed rehabilitation of the Nyanya-Karu-Jikwoyi-Karshi Highway, which has eased traffic congestion, the Kugbo Bus Terminal, the Kugbo International Market, and the awarding of contracts for reconstructing Karu township roads.
Other ongoing projects spearheaded by Wike include the Karu Water Supply Project (Lot 2), launched in August 2025 to expand access to clean water for communities in Karu, Kurudu, Jikwoyi, and surrounding areas. The initiative involves laying 194 kilometres of pipes, aimed at providing potable water to hundreds of thousands of residents, reducing waterborne diseases, boosting public health, and supporting overall regional development.
The statement further praised Wike for fostering collaboration with Senator Aduda and the appointment of their son-in-law, Engr. Richard Dauda, as Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
“Through your efforts, our son-in-law, Engr. Richard Dauda, has also been appointed as the current Executive Secretary of the FCDA. Our elder brother and former lawmaker, Senator Philip Aduda, enjoys your goodwill and that of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration,” the statement added.
The association commended Wike’s decision to terminate the long-delayed Apo-Karshi road project and award it to a more competent construction firm, noting that this move has significantly improved residents’ lives.
Finally, the Karu indigenes pledged their support for Wike’s administration, while appealing for intervention regarding the lack of appointments of FCT indigenes as career or non-career ambassadors and other federal positions, including board membership of the North Central Development Commission.
