By Chidiebere Ugwu
Federal Government on Monday clarified that the Murtala Muhammed Expressed Way in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has not been renamed after Nigeria’s Nobel Laurent, Professor Wole Soyinka.
In a statement signed by Rabiu Ibrahim
Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, the Federal Government said the clarification became necessary following rumours being circulated that the Expressed Way has been renamed, declaring that such decision has never been contemplated by the administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
“We have noted the rumours being circulated that the Murtala Muhammed Expressed Way in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has been renamed as Wole Soyinka Way.
“The renaming of the Murtala Muhammed Expressway Way has never been contemplated by this administration.
“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.
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“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” reads the statement in parts.
