The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has commended Dunamis International Gospel Centre for its contribution to the city’s infrastructure through the construction of a pedestrian bridge in Abuja.
Wike disclosed that the church had initially applied for approval to construct the facility in 2018. However, the application did not reach his office until February 2026, prompting a rapid administrative response that saw the project approved within a month.
The minister’s recognition of the religious organisation follows the completion of the bridge, which is expected to improve safety and movement for commuters and worshippers in the area.
During his comments regarding the construction of the facility, Wike noted the long gap between the initial application and the recent official approval. The eight-year delay between the 2018 request and the 2026 intervention points to previous bureaucratic bottlenecks within the FCT administration that the current leadership aims to bypass.
Private sector involvement in Abuja infrastructure
The project represents a growing trend where private entities, including religious organisations, take on the cost of essential public works to mitigate local transport challenges. In many high-traffic corridors of Abuja, the demand for pedestrian safety often outpaces the government’s immediate budgetary allocations for minor infrastructure projects.
By taking the initiative to build the bridge, Dunamis Church has provided a functional solution to the risks faced by pedestrians crossing busy roads near its premises. Wike’s swift approval once the matter was brought to his attention suggests a policy shift toward facilitating private-sector-led urban improvements to support the FCT’s development goals.
Urban planners in the capital have frequently called for more structured ways to integrate community-funded projects into the master plan to ensure they meet safety standards and aesthetic requirements. While the bridge serves a specific local need, it also serves as a model for how non-state actors can assist in reducing the infrastructure deficit in the Federal Capital Territory.
The FCT administration has previously struggled with managing rapid population growth and the resulting pressure on road networks. This collaboration between the ministry and the church may encourage other organisations to propose similar projects to ease congestion and improve safety in their immediate vicinities.
The ministry is expected to continue monitoring such private projects to ensure they align with the overall urban planning regulations of Abuja. Residents in the area are now looking to see if similar community-driven initiatives will be encouraged in other high-traffic zones across the city.
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