Tinubu ends neglect of FCT satellite towns, inaugurates Karu Water project

President Bola Tinubu on Monday declared that the era of neglect of satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is over, saying his administration remained committed to ensuring that basic infrastructure and public services reach communities long excluded from development.

Tinubu made the declaration while commissioning the Water Supply Network to Karu Satellite Town and Environs in Kurudu Community along the Karu-Karshi Road, Abuja.

Describing access to clean water as a fundamental human right, the president said the project was a practical demonstration of the administration’s resolve to translate the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible benefits for ordinary Nigerians.

“We are here not just to cut a ribbon, but to breathe life into a fundamental human right that has eluded this bustling community for far too long. Today, we declare that the era of neglect for our satellite towns is officially over,” said Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

He recalled that when the administration launched the Renewed Hope Agenda, it entered into what he described as a “sacred covenant” with Nigerians to ensure that governance delivers meaningful improvements in people’s lives.

According to him, the government was determined to move beyond policy pronouncements and provide critical infrastructure to underserved communities.

Tinubu revealed that the Karu Water Supply Project was conceived following his directive that the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project should not be limited to the city centre but extended to satellite communities where a large proportion of the FCT’s working population resides.

Tinubu noted that the administration approved funding for the project without bureaucratic delays, enabling contractors, CGC Nigeria Limited, to complete the work ahead of schedule.

The project, he said, comprises more than 194 kilometres of secondary and tertiary pipeline networks designed to provide treated and potable water to residents of Karu, Orozo, Jikwoyi, Kurudu, and neighbouring communities.

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Tinubu added: “To demonstrate our commitment, we did not allow the traditional shackles of bureaucratic delay to obstruct funding. Because we paid on time, the contractors worked on time.

“Today, ahead of schedule, we are commissioning over 194 kilometres of pipeline networks bringing safe and potable water directly to the doorsteps of our people.”

The president stated that residents of Karu had, for decades, depended on boreholes and water vendors despite the rapid growth of the community, stressing that the project would improve public health, sanitation and economic productivity.

He also urged residents to protect the infrastructure from vandalism and illegal connections.

Tinubu used the occasion to commend the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for what he described as impactful leadership and efficient project execution.

Tinubu said: “Leadership is not measured by the eloquence of television commentary or the bitterness of empty rhetoric. Leadership is measured by tangible, verifiable impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.

“What we are witnessing in the FCT today across transport, healthcare, education, housing, roads and now water infrastructure is a testament to what happens when vision meets executive capacity. Thank you, Mr Project, for your leadership.”

Earlier, Wike expressed appreciation to the president for supporting people-centred projects across the FCT, particularly in satellite communities that have suffered infrastructure deficits.

The minister said the Karu Water Supply Scheme was executed in direct response to Tinubu’s directive that critical infrastructure should extend beyond the city centre to communities on the outskirts of Abuja.

According to him, the FCT Administration remained committed to implementing projects and programmes that improve the quality of life of residents across the territory.

Also speaking, Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as a landmark achievement in the federal government’s commitment to improving living conditions through strategic infrastructure investment.

She said the water network fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of residents and reflected the practical impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Mahmoud noted that the project would enhance public health, strengthen sanitation, stimulate economic activities and reduce the burden faced by families who have endured years of inadequate access to potable water.