Wike, Ode Commission Dunamis-Built Pedestrian Bridge On Abuja Airport Road

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Benue State Deputy Governor, Dr Sam Ode, have commissioned a pedestrian bridge constructed by the Dunamis International Gospel Centre along the busy Airport Road in Abuja.

The bridge, fully funded by the church as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, was unveiled on Friday by the church’s Senior Pastor, Dr Paul Enenche, and his wife, Dr Becky Enenche, after four months of construction.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Enenche said the project was driven by the church’s commitment to promoting public safety and demonstrating love for humanity through practical interventions.

He disclosed that the church secured approval for the project from the FCT Administration in February 2026, following an application first submitted in 2018. Construction began on June 22 and was completed in four months.

According to him, the bridge was designed to provide pedestrians with a safer means of crossing the multi-lane Airport Road, which has recorded several pedestrian-related accidents.

Enenche said the church had previously deployed coaster buses to assist people in crossing the road, but the arrangement proved inadequate, necessitating the construction of a permanent pedestrian crossing.

He added that the church had installed green grills along the corridor to discourage indiscriminate road crossing and improve safety.

The cleric also disclosed that the church had requested permission to roof the bridge with transparent cladding and install lighting to improve its appearance and encourage greater usage.

He said Dunamis had undertaken other community development projects, including road construction in Mararaba, Karu and Kubwa, provision of boreholes in Borno State, and support for internally displaced persons and flood victims in Maiduguri.

In his remarks, Wike commended the church for investing in public infrastructure, noting that government alone could not meet every societal need.

He confirmed that the application for the bridge dated back to 2018 but was approved in February 2026 under his administration.

“The application was made in 2018. It was in February 2026 when I was reminded. In less than a month you received approval. It means there is a government,” the minister said.

Wike described the project as a demonstration of corporate social responsibility and urged residents to use the facility to reduce pedestrian-related accidents and save lives.

He also approved the church’s request to roof the bridge and made additional commitments towards the project.

Similarly, Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the FCT, praised Dunamis for translating its religious beliefs into practical action, describing the bridge as an intervention that would save lives daily.

The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Dr Sam Ode, also commended Enenche, who hails from Orokam in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state, describing him as a source of pride to Benue.

Meanwhile, the FCT Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Taminu Iliyasu, said Airport Road had recorded a high number of pedestrian-related crashes, underscoring the importance of the new facility.

The Managing Director of Dutum Construction Company Limited, Temitope Runshewe, said the project was completed through deliberate planning and committed leadership.

Runshewe disclosed that the bridge was the fifth pedestrian bridge his company had constructed in the FCT, following similar projects at Bannex, Sheraton, VIO and Setraco.

He described the delivery timeline as challenging but said the company completed the project within the agreed period.

The commissioning marks another private-sector contribution to public infrastructure and road safety in the Federal Capital Territory.