- Federal Government says the existing Murtala Mohammed Way has not been renamed after Soyinka
- A new road was instead named after the Nobel Laureate
- The proposal to name the road after Soyinka was made by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
Contrary to speculation, the Federal Government has clarified that Abuja's Murtala Mohammed Way has not been renamed after Professor Wole Soyinka.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, emphasised that President Bola Tinubu's administration did not consider renaming Murtala Muhammed.
Murtala Mohammed Way not renamed
The minister clarified this in a statement released by his media special assistant, Rabiu Ibrahim, on Monday, June 17.
“We have noted the rumours being circulated that the Murtala Mohammed Expressed Way in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has been renamed as Wole Soyinka Way.
”The renaming of the Murtala Mohammed Expressway Way has never been contemplated by this administration.
Different road named after Wole Soyinka
The statement, however, pointed out that it was a new road that was proposed to the president to be named after Soyinka, not othe existing Murtala Mohammed Expressway. This proposal was made by the Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike and the president gave his approval.
“For the record, on June 4, 2024, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated a new road in the FCT codenamed Arterial Road N20 (from Katampe to Jahi), which links the existing Outer Northern Expressway (also known as Murtala Mohammed Expressway) to the Northern Parkway (also called Ahmadu Bello Way).
”During the inauguration of the N20 (which is a new road), FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, proposed to the President that the road be named after Prof Wole Soyinka, and the President agreed.
“Therefore, it is the Arterial Road N20 that is named after Prof Soyinka. The Murtala Mohammed Expressway remains unchanged and continues to bear the name of our esteemed former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed.
“We urge all citizens to disregard any misinformation regarding the renaming of the Murtala Mohammed Expressway. The report is entirely false and only exists in the imagination of its purveyors.“
Nigerian Government reacts to New York Times' report on economy
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the New York Times' report analysing Nigeria's dire socio-economic conditions provoked the Nigerian government.
According to the report, Nigerians wre experiencing the worst economic crisis in decades, with prices of food, medicine, and petrol too high for many to afford, and the government making it difficult for businesses operate.