Wike Commissions Dunamis-Funded Pedestrian Bridge On Abuja Airport Road

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

The church funded the project entirely as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. Its Senior Pastor, Dr Paul Enenche, and his wife, Dr Becky Enenche, led the initiative.

Speaking at the ceremony, Enenche said the church undertook the project to promote public safety and demonstrate its commitment to improving lives through practical acts of love.

He explained that Dunamis obtained approval from the FCT Administration after six years of applications. Construction began on June 22 and ended within four months.

According to him, the contractor initially received a three-month delivery target before both parties settled for four months.

“God is love. To be a messenger of God means to be a messenger of love. Love is about what we give, not what we get. We may make a living by what we get, but we make a difference by what we give,” he said.

Enenche commended the construction company for completing the project within four months and one week, despite the tight schedule.

“They worked night and day. This is the fastest they have ever constructed anywhere,” he added.

The pastor also disclosed that the church had requested approval to install transparent roofing and lighting on the bridge. The proposed additions, he said, would improve its appearance and encourage pedestrians to use the facility.

He listed other interventions by the church, including road projects around Mararaba boundary, Karu and Kubwa, as well as boreholes in Borno State.

One of the boreholes, he noted, stands beside a mosque in Maisandari Ward. The church has also supported internally displaced persons and victims of flooding in Maiduguri.

In her remarks, Becky Enenche described the bridge as a major relief for pedestrians who frequently risk their lives while crossing the busy highway.

She explained that the church had previously deployed coaster buses to transport pedestrians across the road. However, the arrangement could not adequately address the problem.

“We tried many measures earlier. We used to provide coaster buses that would take people across. But the logistics were not adequate,” she said.

She added that the church also installed green grills to discourage indiscriminate road crossing and improve pedestrian safety.

The Managing Director of Dutum Construction Company Limited, Temitope Runshewe, attributed the successful delivery to effective leadership and the determination of the construction team.

“I was asked to deliver in four months. I said yes sir, even though my legs were shaking,” he said.

Runshewe described Dutum as a 37-year-old indigenous construction firm founded by his father, Engineer Olatunde Runshewe.

He said the Airport Road facility marked the company’s fifth pedestrian bridge project in the FCT. Others stand at Bannex, Sheraton, VIO and Setraco.

Commissioning the bridge, Wike praised the Enenches for committing private resources to infrastructure that directly benefits Abuja residents.

The minister recalled that the church first submitted its application in 2018. However, his administration granted approval in February 2026 after the matter came to his attention.

“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,” Wike said.

He described the intervention as a demonstration of corporate social responsibility, noting that government alone could not meet every infrastructure need.

Wike also approved the church’s request to roof the bridge and made further commitments towards completing the additional work.

He urged pedestrians to use the facility rather than risk their lives by crossing the expressway.

“As it has been constructed by Dunamis as its social responsibility as approved by me, I hereby commission this in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” he declared.

Also speaking, the senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, commended the church for translating its religious convictions into practical service to humanity.

“Today is a day of gratitude. This pedestrian crossing will be saving lives daily,” she said.

Ode described Enenche, who hails from Orokam in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, as a source of pride to the state.

Similarly, the FCT Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Taminu Iliyasu, said the Airport Road corridor had recorded a high number of pedestrian-related crashes.

He said the new facility would provide a safer crossing point and help reduce the risks pedestrians face along the highway.