Professor Aminu Gusau, former Coordinating Director of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has praised Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike for his decisive leadership and infrastructure renewal efforts in Abuja.
Gusau, a visiting professor at the University of Kansas, delivered his remarks on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2026 Annual Distinguished Personality Lecture Series hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Yakubu Gowon University. Wike, the event’s distinguished lecturer, presented a paper titled “The Impact of Political Leadership on Infrastructural Development in Nigeria: Between Dividends of Democracy and Good Governance.”
Since assuming office in August 2023, Gusau noted that Wike’s administration has focused on restoring the Abuja Master Plan and accelerating project delivery. Key achievements include the completion and rehabilitation of major road networks connecting the city centre to satellite towns. Specific projects cited were the Apo-Wasa Road and the revitalisation of strategic junctions and inner-city corridors, which have enhanced mobility and economic activity.
The minister’s work has extended to satellite towns such as Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Bwari, and Karu, where ongoing road construction, drainage upgrades, and public infrastructure improvements are underway. According to Gusau, several previously stalled contracts have been revived, reflecting a governance approach centred on continuity and accountability.
Beyond transportation, Gusau highlighted reforms in development control enforcement and land administration aimed at improving transparency and boosting internally generated revenue. Investments in street lighting, environmental sanitation, and public space management were also credited with improving security and urban aesthetics.
Drawing on his extensive international experience, Gusau stated that effective leaders translate good intentions into tangible action. “Wike belongs to that category of leaders,” he said, adding that performance should be measured by visible outcomes like completed infrastructure and strengthened public systems. He emphasised that leadership requires firmness and resolve, even when decisions are unpopular.
The lecture, held at a university setting, underscored the importance of objective, outcome-based assessment of public service. Gusau contended that Wike’s record—from his tenure as Rivers State governor to his current role—demonstrates a pattern of decisive execution and institutional assertiveness.
The commendation positions Wike’s FCT administration as a case study in performance-driven governance, with Gusau suggesting that sustained focus on infrastructure, regulatory reform, and project completion sets a benchmark for political leadership in Nigeria’s development landscape.
