The Federal Government has debunked speculations circulating about the renaming of the Murtala Muhammed Expressway in Abuja to Wole Soyinka Way.
In a statement issued on Monday, the media aide to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, clarified that such a renaming was never under consideration by the current administration.
The confusion arose following the inauguration of a new road, Arterial Road N20, by President Bola Tinubu on June 4, 2024, in the Federal Capital Territory.
This road connects Katampe to Jahi, linking the Outer Northern Expressway (commonly known as Murtala Muhammed Expressway) to the Northern Parkway (Ahmadu Bello Way).
During the inauguration ceremony, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike proposed naming the new road after Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, a suggestion which President Tinubu endorsed. This decision led to the misconception that the Murtala Muhammed Expressway itself had been renamed.
The statement emphasized, “We have noted the rumours being circulated that the Murtala Muhammed Express 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.”
It further clarified, “Therefore, the Arterial Road N20 is named after Prof Soyinka. The Murtala Muhammed Expressway remains unchanged and continues to bear the name of our esteemed former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed.”
The government urged the public to disregard any misinformation regarding the renaming of the expressway, affirming that reports suggesting otherwise are false and baseless.
“We urge all citizens to disregard any misinformation regarding renaming the Murtala Muhammed Expressway. The report is entirely false and only exists in the imagination of its purveyors,” the statement concluded.