There has been some confusion surrounding the renaming of the Murtala Muhammed Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but the Federal Government has officially confirmed that this expressway has not been renamed as Wole Soyinka Way.
Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, released a statement emphasizing that the current administration never considered such a renaming.
This clarification aims to dispel rumors and correct misinformation in the media. On June 4, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated a new road in the FCT called Arterial Road N20, which connects the existing Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Muhammed Expressway) to the Northern Parkway (Ahmadu Bello Way).
During the inauguration, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike suggested that the new road be named after Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, a suggestion that President Tinubu agreed to.
However, it is important to note that it is the Arterial Road N20 that has been named Wole Soyinka Way, while the Murtala Muhammed Expressway retains its original name in honor of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed.
The Minister urged citizens to disregard any false reports about the renaming of the expressway, as they are baseless and do not reflect the government’s actions or intentions. In summary, while a new road has been named after Prof.
Wole Soyinka, the Murtala Muhammed Expressway remains unchanged in its dedication to its namesake.
