Tinubu Launches 198km Bwari Water Network, Targets Four More FCT Councils

President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the Bwari Township Water Supply Network Project in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stating that his administration was extending critical infrastructure beyond the city centre to satellite towns as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Represented by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the President said the completion of the 198-kilometre water pipeline network marked another fulfilment of his administration’s commitment to decentralising development and improving living standards in underserved communities.

He said the project would connect Bwari Township, Ushafa and adjoining communities to the Lower Usuma Dam treated water supply, ending decades of dependence on boreholes and streams.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not a slogan. It is a contract. It is a deliberate, calculated and unyielding commitment to governance that works for the people,” Tinubu said at the inauguration ceremony held at the Bwari Market Roundabout on Tuesday.

According to him, previous administrations allowed a situation where Abuja developed into “a tale of two cities,” with the city centre receiving infrastructure while satellite communities remained neglected.

“We promised that development would not just be discussed in the air-conditioned offices of city centres while our people in satellite towns and rural communities are left in the dark. Nigeria belongs to all of us and development must be decentralised,” he said.

Tinubu said he approved the project after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, presented the proposal, noting that residents of Bwari and neighbouring communities had relied on untreated water sources for years.

“I gave him a direct order to go out there, mobilise the best and fix it,” the President said.

He added that the administration ensured prompt release of funds to guarantee completion of the project ahead of schedule.

Describing access to clean water as a fundamental right, Tinubu said the project would significantly reduce waterborne diseases while eliminating the financial burden associated with sinking private boreholes.

The President also disclosed that the project generated more than 1,600 direct and indirect jobs during construction.

He assured residents that the ongoing expansion of potable water supply would continue across other satellite towns.

“Last year, it was the Lower Usuma Dam Phase II rehabilitation; last month, it was the Karu water network; today it is Bwari. Before our tenure is over, this water revolution will extend to Kuje, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji,” he said.

Tinubu commended Wike for what he described as prudent financial management and effective project execution.

He said the minister had demonstrated that “with fiscal discipline, political will and genuine commitment to the people, transformation is inevitable.”

The President urged residents to safeguard the infrastructure against vandalism, saying public facilities could only deliver long-term benefits if adequately protected by host communities.

Earlier, Wike said the Bwari project fulfilled President Tinubu’s directive that potable water should be extended from the city centre to satellite communities.

He recalled that following the inauguration of the Abuja city water supply during the President’s second anniversary in office, the administration promised to replicate similar interventions across the satellite towns.

According to him, the Karu satellite town water project was inaugurated recently by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of the President, while Bwari had now become the latest beneficiary.

“Since President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, water has been provided for the city centre, Karu and surrounding communities, and today Bwari. We are not concentrating on roads alone; we are ensuring other sectors also receive attention,” Wike said.

The minister noted that road projects in Ushafa and Bwari had already been completed and inauguratedi, adding that the 17-kilometre Bwari-Kubwa Road would also be inaugurated before the end of the year.

Wike said Tuesday’s event marked the 50th official project inauguration under the Tinubu administration since May 29, 2023.

He added that the FCT Administration planned to inaugurate another 10 projects before January 2027.

According to him, the transformation recorded across the territory had been made possible by sustained presidential support.

“You can only perform when you have the support of the President. President Tinubu has provided all the support required to change the narrative in the FCT and we will not disappoint him,” he said.

Wike also argued that governance should be measured by improvements in the lives of citizens, saying ongoing infrastructure projects reflected the administration’s commitment to fulfilling that responsibility.

In her remarks, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the Bwari Water Supply Network as a major milestone in implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda.

She said the project would improve access to clean water, strengthen public health, enhance livelihoods and restore public confidence in government.

Mahmoud commended President Tinubu for supporting infrastructure development across the FCT and praised Wike for accelerating projects in satellite towns.

She also appreciated the First Lady for launching the project and acknowledged the contributions of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, development partners, engineers, contractors and residents of Bwari.

The minister urged beneficiaries to protect the water infrastructure and use it responsibly to ensure its long-term sustainability.

The Bwari Township Water Supply Network Project is expected to provide treated water to thousands of households across Bwari and surrounding communities through a 198-kilometre distribution network connected to the Lower Usuma Dam.