Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday issued a strong warning to the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Maikalangu, over the naming of roads built with federal government funds in the Federal Capital Territory.
Akpabio cautioned the council chairman against assigning names to federally funded roads without proper approval, stressing that such decisions must follow due process and official authorization.
The warning came during the inauguration of newly completed roads in Gaduwa District, Abuja, as part of activities marking the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking at the event, Akpabio backed the position earlier stated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who had also warned against unauthorized naming of roads executed by the FCT Administration.
Wike made it clear that area council chairmen only have the authority to name projects financed by their respective councils. According to him, roads and infrastructure delivered through funds from the FCT Administration remain under the control of the government, including decisions regarding their naming.
Akpabio, while addressing officials and stakeholders at the ceremony, stressed that public infrastructure funded by the federal government must not be named arbitrarily.
He said: “Senior officials of the FCT Administration, the chairmen of the area councils of the FCT particularly the one that has just been warned that we will not spend money from the federal government to construct road then you will name it after your mother.
“It’s important for you to note that he who pays the piper detects the tune, so if you wanted to name this road after just anybody you should have constructed it.
“It’s not when the federal government has finished that you would find anybody, one palm wine tapper in your village and name the road after the person, so minister thank you for warning on time.”