In recent developments, the Federal Government has addressed speculations regarding the renaming of a major expressway in Abuja. Contrary to rumors, the Murtala Muhammed Expressway has not been renamed after Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, clarified that there was no intention from the current administration to alter the name of the expressway.
The confusion arose following the inauguration of a new road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by President Bola Tinubu on June 4. The newly inaugurated Arterial Road N20, which creates a link between the Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Muhammed Expressway) and Northern Parkway (Ahmadu Bello Way), was proposed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to be named after Wole Soyinka. The President supported this proposal. Alhaji Idris emphasized that it is only Arterial Road N20 that bears the new name in honor of Wole Soyinka.
The Murtala Muhammed Expressway continues to honor the legacy of former Head of State General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, retaining its original name. The government has urged the public to disregard any misleading information regarding this matter and reiterated that any reports about renaming Murtala Muhammed Expressway are entirely unfounded.
Citizens are encouraged to seek accurate information from reliable sources and contribute to preventing the spread of misinformation. The Federal Government has debunked rumors circulating about the renaming of Murtala Muhammed Expressway in Abuja to Wole Soyinka Way. According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the administration never considered renaming the expressway.
Instead, the newly inaugurated Arterial Road N20, which connects the Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Muhammed Expressway) to the Northern Parkway (Ahmadu Bello Way), was named after the renowned Nigerian author and Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka. The proposal was made by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and approved by President Bola Tinubu on June 4.
This clarification comes as a relief to many Nigerians who had expressed concerns over the potential renaming of the expressway. The government’s decision to name the new road after Wole Soyinka is seen as a tribute to his contributions to Nigerian literature and culture. In a statement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation reassured citizens that the government is committed to transparency and accuracy in its communication.
He urged the public to rely on official sources for information to avoid spreading misinformation. With this clarification, Nigerians can rest assured that the Murtala Muhammed Expressway will continue to bear its original name, while the new Arterial Road N20 will serve as a tribute to Wole Soyinka’s legacy. The government’s commitment to transparency and accuracy in communication is evident in this clarification, and citizens are encouraged to seek reliable sources of information to prevent the spread of misinformation.
