The government clarifies that Abuja’s Murtala Mohammed Way has not been renamed after Soyinka, contrary to speculation.
Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, emphasized that the idea of renaming Murtala Muhammed was not considered during President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The clarification was provided by the minister 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.
“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.“