Abuja

Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria, right in the middle of the country within the Federal Capital Territory. It became the capital on December 12, 1991, replacing Lagos, which was Nigeria's largest city. As the home of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Abuja has many important buildings spread out over more than 50 areas.

The city is shaped by big natural rocks, like Aso Rock, which is 400 metres tall, and Zuma Rock, which is even taller at 725 metres. Important government places, such as the Presidential Complex, National Assembly, and Supreme Court, are found around these rocks.

Abuja has grown very quickly. In 2006, about 776,000 people lived there, but by 2010, the city had grown by almost 140%! It is still one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The city has important places for different religions, like the Nigerian National Mosque and the Nigerian National Christian Centre. People can fly into Abuja using the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The city is also a center for meetings and conferences, and in 2016, it joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

History

Abuja was originally the name of a nearby town now called Suleja. The area has been home to several groups, including the Abawa, Basa, Gwandara, and Gbagyi.

In the 1970s, Nigeria decided to move its capital from Lagos to a more central location. Abuja was chosen because it was in the middle of the country, making it easier for everyone to reach. Construction began in 1979, but it took many years to complete. Finally, on December 12, 1991, Abuja officially became Nigeria's capital. Today, it is home to important government buildings and international organizations.

Administration

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) is the local government body that takes care of the city of Abuja. It works under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), which manages the whole Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The chairman of AMAC leads the council and speaks for the people living in the area. The head of the FCTA is the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the chairman of AMAC is Christopher Zaka Maikalangu.

The city of Abuja is split into different "Phases" to help with planning and building. Phase 1 is in the center, close to Aso Rock, and includes areas like Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, and Garki. As the city grows, new phases are added, like Phase 5, which includes the Kyami District near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the University of Abuja. Each phase is separated by roads, some of which are still being built.

Phases

Abuja is organized into phases, which are further divided into districts.

Phase 1

Asokoro District

Main article: Asokoro

Asokoro is one of the earliest districts and has many important buildings, including offices for government leaders and diplomats. It is located east of Garki and south of the Central District. The Presidential Palace, known as Aso Rock, is here.

Central Business District

Abuja's Central District, also called the Central Area, runs from Aso Rock in the east to the National Stadium in the west. It is the main business zone, with many important offices and government buildings. Highlights include the Three Arms Zone and Eagle Square, where important ceremonies happen.

Garki District

The Garki District is in the southwest part of the city, with the Central District to the north and Asokoro to the east. It is divided into areas numbered 1 to 11. Garki is the main business and administrative area of Abuja, with many notable buildings such as the General Post Office and several hotels. Area 7 has many banks and offices along Moshood Abiola Way. The headquarters of the Nigerian Armed Forces are also here.

Guzape District

Maitama District

Main article: Maitama

Maitama is north of the city and is known for its expensive homes and important buildings like the Transcorp Hilton Abuja and the Nigerian Communications Commission Headquarters. It is a very exclusive area with many embassies. Maitama also has a hospital and is home to many families.

Maitama II

Maitama II District Cadastral Zone A10 is a new area created in 2018 from part of Mpape Hills. It is expected to become a major area for real estate development, though plans are still unclear.

Wuse District

Wuse is in the northwest part of the city, with Maitama to the north and the Central District to the south. It is divided into Zones 1 to 6 and is home to the Wuse Market, the Sheraton Hotel, and many important government offices. Like other central districts, Wuse has more office buildings and apartment blocks than large housing estates.

Phase 2

• Apo-Dutse
• Dakibiyu
• Duboyi
• Durumi
• Gaduwa
• Gudu
• Jabi
• Jahi
• Kado
• Katampe
• Kaura
• Kukwuaba
• Mabushi
• Utako
• Wuye

Phase 3

• Galadimawa
• Gwarimpa
• Industrial Area 1 & Extension District
• Kabusa
• Karmo
• Kafe
• Life Camp
• Nbora
• Dakwo
• Lokogoma

Phase 4

• Idu
• Karsana

There are five suburban districts: Nyanya Karu, Gwagwalada Kubwa, and Jikwoyi. Along the Airport Road (now Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Express Way) are smaller communities such as Lugbe, Chika, Kuchigworo, and Pyakassa. Other smaller communities include Idu (the main industrial zone), Mpape, Karimu, Gwagwa, and Dei-Dei.

Cityscape

The Millennium Tower started being built in 2005 but stopped in 2017 when there was no more money. It is the tallest building in Abuja, standing at 170 metres tall. It is part of a big cultural area called the Nigeria National Complex, which has space for Nigerian art and culture designed by an Italian architect.

Abuja has many important places such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Presidential Complex, and Aso Rock. The National Stadium has hosted big sports events, including games from the 2003 All Africa Games and the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

Abuja has several parks and green spaces. The largest is Millennium Park, which opened in 2003. Other parks include one in Lifecamp Gwarimpa with sports courts, and a city park in Wuse 2 with fun activities like a 4D cinema and restaurants. The National Children's Park and Zoo offers places to play and see animals.

Abuja also has informal spots called "bush bars" where people can sit, drink, and enjoy snacks like suya, grilled catfish, and yam. These spots are found all around the city.

Geography

Abuja is 360 metres (1,180 ft) above sea level.

Climate

Abuja has a tropical wet and dry climate. Each year, it has three main weather conditions: a warm, humid rainy season, a very hot dry season, and a short harmattan period. The harmattan brings northeast winds that make the air dusty and the sky clear.

The rainy season is from April to October. Daytime temperatures are between 28 °C (82.4 °F) and 30 °C (86.0 °F). Nighttime temperatures are around 22 °C (71.6 °F) to 23 °C (73.4 °F). In the dry season, days can get very hot, up to 40 °C (104.0 °F). Nights can cool down to about 20 °C (68.0 °F). Because Abuja is inland, its temperatures change more between day and night than in coastal cities like Lagos.

Environmental impact reduction

Vegetation

The land around Abuja is part of the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic. Some patches of rainforest still exist, especially in the southeast. These areas have rough land with gullies and are some of the last mature forests in Nigeria.

Gallery

Abuja city gate

Zuma rock

Terminal at the [Abuja International Airport](/wiki/Nnamdi_Azikiwe_International_Airport)

Nigeria's [National Assembly](/wiki/National_Assembly_\(Nigeria\)) building with the Mace

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Shehu Musa Yar'adua Center

Glass dome of Shehu Musa Yar'adua Centre in Abuja

Side view of [Central Bank of Nigeria](/wiki/Central_Bank_of_Nigeria), Abuja

Usman Dam, Bwari Abuja

Usuma Dam Abuja

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  Nigeria Senate Building (Red Chamber)

Millennium Park

Abuja Millennium Park

Green hills

View of Abuja from Katampe hill

Crush Rock, Abuja

Demographics

In 2006, Abuja had a population of 776,298, making it the eighth most populous city in Nigeria. From 2000 to 2010, the city grew very quickly. By 2015, Abuja was still one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

Many people have moved to Abuja, and smaller towns around the city have grown, such as Karu Urban Area, Suleja, Gwagwalada, Lugbe, and Kuje. In 2022, the area around Abuja had an estimated population of 3,770,000, with many people coming from nearby countries. The city has been developing quickly over the past fifteen years.

Economy and infrastructure

Abuja's economy is helped by real estate, which creates many jobs and has grown with local and foreign investment.

The city holds an annual trade fair called the Abuja International Trade Fair, organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This helps connect businesses, especially with places in East Africa.

Abuja has a postal system run by the Nigerian Postal Service, which handles mail with special codes for different areas.

The main airport is Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, named after Nigeria’s first president. It has terminals for both international and local flights.

Abuja is connected to nearby places like Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, and Northeast Nigeria by highways. Some roads, like the one to Minna in Niger State, are still being built. There are also roads linking Abuja to Kaduna and Lokoja.

Trains run between Abuja and Kaduna from the Idu Railway Station, with parking for travelers. Abuja also had a light rail system that started in 2018, but it stopped during the COVID-19 time and started running again on 29 May 2024.

Education

Abuja is a great place for students to continue learning after high school. Many students choose to study there because there are lots of public and private universities in the city.

Universities

• African University of Science and Technology
• Baze University
• National Open University of Nigeria
• Nile University of Nigeria
• Philomath University
• University of Abuja
• Veritas University

International schools

• American International School of Abuja
• École Française Marcel Pagnol
• Whiteplains British School, Jabi

Natural resources

Abuja has many useful materials from nature. These help make medicines, food, and other products. They can also be used for business and as food sources. Some of these important materials include:

Honorary citizens

People who have been given honorary citizenship of Abuja are listed below.