Abuja

Abuja is the federal capital city of Nigeria, located at the geographic heart of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The land was originally part of the ancient Habe kingdom of Zazzau, inhabited for centuries by indigenous groups such as the Gbagyi, Koro, Gwandara, and Bassa. In the early 19th century, Prince Abubakar — known as Abu Ja — fled south from Fulani incursions and established the kingdom of Abuja. However, the modern city was born in 1976 when the Federal Military Government promulgated Decree No. 6 to create a new, centrally located capital that would replace congested Lagos.

Construction of the planned city began in the late 1970s under the Federal Capital Development Authority, with master planning by International Planning Associates. Abuja was designed as a neutral territory symbolizing national unity, bridging Nigeria's ethnic and religious divides. It officially assumed capital status on 12 December 1991. Since then, it has become the seat of the presidency, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court, drawing millions of residents from all 36 states and over 250 ethnic groups.

Today, Abuja stands as one of Africa's fastest-growing and most affluent cities. Its skyline is punctuated by Aso Rock, the National Mosque, the National Christian Centre, and the Millennium Park. The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport connects it to the world. As a purpose-built capital, Abuja continues to embody Nigeria's aspirations for unity, order, and progress on the continental stage.