By Stella Odueme
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has commissioned a newly constructed pedestrian bridge across the 10-lane Airport Expressway in Abuja, executed by the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Glory Dome.
At the commissioning ceremony on Friday, Wike commended the Senior Pastor of the church, Dr Paul Enenche, and his wife, Dr Becky Enenche, for investing in public infrastructure through their corporate social responsibility initiative.
He said the project demonstrated how religious organisations and private institutions could complement government efforts in protecting lives and promoting community development.
Wike noted in a statement by the Deputy Director, Press, Office of the Minister, Rabi Musa Umar, that government could not shoulder every responsibility, describing the church's decision to fund the pedestrian bridge as a significant sacrifice for public safety.
As part of the FCT Administration's support for the initiative, the minister announced that the government would reimburse the church 50 per cent of the construction cost.
He consequently directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, to liaise with the church management to assess the project cost and facilitate the reimbursement, alongside other pending approvals requested by the church.
The minister also urged other private organisations and non-governmental institutions to embrace similar interventions that would improve public welfare.
Addressing commuters, Wike appealed to pedestrians to use the newly commissioned bridge instead of crossing the busy Airport Expressway and exposing themselves to accidents.
He explained that although the church initially applied for approval to construct the bridge in 2018, the request was reviewed and approved within a month after being brought to his attention in February 2026.
According to him, the prompt approval reflects President Bola Tinubu's commitment to infrastructure development and responsive governance in the FCT.
Wike also criticised what he described as politically motivated misinformation on social media, urging Nigerians to elect leaders with proven capacity to deliver good governance.
He said leadership quality remained critical to national development, stressing that citizens should assess political leaders based on their ability to deliver results.
Earlier, Dr Enenche expressed appreciation to the FCT Minister for granting approval for the project after years of waiting.
He disclosed that the church completed the bridge within four months of securing approval, having made adequate financial provisions to ensure that funding did not disrupt construction.
Explaining the motivation behind the project, the cleric said Christian faith should be demonstrated through practical service, love and contributions to society.
He emphasised that the value of an individual's legacy should be measured by how responsibly available resources and opportunities were used to improve the lives of others.
Also speaking, Benue State Deputy Governor, Dr Sam Ode, commended Wike for approving the project and praised the Enenches for their contributions to Christianity and humanity.
Similarly, the FCT Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Tijani Ilyasu, said the pedestrian bridge would help reduce accidents involving pedestrians along the Airport Road, one of the territory's major highways.
The Managing Director of Dutum, the construction company, Mr Runsewe, disclosed that the project was the firm's fifth pedestrian bridge in the FCT, following earlier constructions at Bannex, Sheraton Hotel, VIO and Setraco.
He expressed confidence in the ability of indigenous construction companies to deliver quality infrastructure and compete effectively at national and international levels.