Abuja

Abuja, Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria. Abuja, Nigeria.
Phase I and II represents Abuja city on a map of FCT Phase I and II represents Abuja city on a map of FCT
Coordinates: 9° N 10° E
Territory	Federal Capital Territory
Government
- Minister	Aliyu Modibbo Umar
Area
- Total	713 km² (275.3 sq mi)
- Land	713 km² (275.3 sq mi)
Population (2006)
- Total	778,567 [1]
Time zone	WAT (UTC+1)
Website: http://www.fct.gov.ng/

Abuja, officially Abuja Municipal Area Council, is the capital city of Nigeria, and is known as the best purpose-built city in Africa as well as one of the wealthiest and most expensive. Abuja is a "planned" city, as it was mainly built in the 1980s and officially became Nigeria's capital on December 12, 1991, replacing the role of the previous capital Lagos.

Geography

Aso Rock.

Abuja National Mosque during Harmattan.

Zuma Rock

Located approximately 300 miles (480 km) northeast of Lagos, in the centre of Nigeria in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja lies at 1180 feet (360 meters) above sea level and has a cooler climate and less humidity than is found in Lagos.

Abuja's geography is defined by two renowned rock formations around it — the Zuma Rock and the Aso Rock. The Zuma Rock is called the "Gateway to Abuja" and the Federal Capital Territory begins at its base. The Aso Rock, a 400-metre monolith left by water erosion, is located at the head of Abuja and the city extends southwards from the rock. "Aso" means "victorious" in the language of the (now displaced) Asokoro ("the people of victory").

The Federal Capital Territory is located north of the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers.

Abuja undergoes three weather conditions annually. This includes a warm, humid rainy season, from April to October, and a blistering dry season, when daytime temperatures can soar as high as 40 degrees. In between the two seasons, there is a brief interlude of harmattan occasioned by the North East Trade Wind, with the main feature of dust haze, intensified coldness and dryness. The annual total rainfall is in the range of 1100mm to 1600mm.

Abuja has several parks and green areas with the largest one being Millennium park, which was designed by world renowned architect Manfredi Nicoletti and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II of England.

Sights include the Nigerian National Mosque and the Nigerian National Christian Centre. The city is served by the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, while Zuma Rock lies nearby. However, the population on the semi-developed edges of the city are living in shanty towns such as Karu, which was built to house the capital's civil servants and lower income families, and has no running water, sanitation or electricity.

History

Abuja City Gate.

Since Nigeria's independence from the United Kingdom, on October 1, 1960, ethnic and religious divisions required the creation of a capital city in a location deemed neutral to all parties. Also, Lagos's population boom made that city overcrowded and conditions squalid. The site for a new capital was chosen because of its central location, easy accessibility, pleasant climate, low population density, and the availability of land for future expansion.

A consortium of three American firms: PRC Corporation; Wallace, McHarg, Roberts and Todd; and, Archisystems, created a master plan for Abuja. Renowned Japanese architect Kenzo Tange refined the design. Construction began in the late 1970s, but economic and political instability meant the city’s initial stages were not complete until the late 1980s.

Most countries moved their embassies to Abuja and maintain their larger former embassies as consulates in the commercial capital, Lagos.

Administration

File:Abuja Districts.PNG

The five districts of Abuja.

File:Nigerian Parliament House Abuja.jpg

National Assembly building in Abuja.

Nigeria is a federal republic. The Federal Capital Territory is a component of the 36 states and one territory that make up Nigeria's administrative system. Abuja is the location of the Presidential Complex, National Assembly, Supreme Court. The city is the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as its military arm, ECOMOG. It also has the regional headquarters of OPEC.

The city’s Phase one districts are: Abuja Central, which is the city's principal Business Zone and includes the National Assembly, the city hall, national cultural institutes, and other government-related offices, Garki, Wuse, Maitama, which is exclusive and is the location of European embassies, and Asokoro. Phase two districts are: Kado, Durumi, Gudu, Utako and Jabi. Phase 3 Districts are: Mabuchi, Katampe, Wuye and Gwarimpa. There are also five suburban districts, which are Nyanya, Karu, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, and Jukwoyi.

Along the Airport Road are clusters of satellite settlements these are namely: Lugbe, Chika, Kuchigworo and Pyakassa. Other satellite settlements are Idu (The Main Industrial Zone), Mpape, Karimu, Gwagwa, Dei-Dei (housing the International Livestock market and also International Building materials market).

Economy

File:AbujaStade.jpg

Abuja stadium interior.

Headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Abuja, Nigeria

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, named after Nigeria's first President, is the main airport. It consists of an international and a domestic terminal, both sharing the same runway. In 2004, the airport served 2,232,905 passengers. Abuja city has major road connections. Abuja also has a running and efficient rapid bus and green cab system. Construction was underway, in 2008, for a light rail system for the city. Abuja did not in 2008 have a connection to the national railway network of Nigeria. Agriculture in the area produces yams, millet, maize, sorghum, and beans. Mineral resources include clay, tin, feldspar, gold, iron ore, lead, marble, and talc.

Demographics

File:Shiphouse Abuja.jpg

Ship House, Navy Headquarters.

Millennium Park.

The Federal Capital Territory had a population of 778,567 in 2006. Abuja and the FCT have undergone a huge population growth — with some areas around Abuja growing at a rate of up to 30 percent each year. Abuja was planned as a capital where all Nigeria's ethnic groups, tribes and religions would come together in harmony. It has avoided the violence prevalent in other parts of Nigeria. Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups. The population in the Federal Capital Territory comprises the Gwari, Koro, Ganagana, Gwandara, Afo, and Bassa ethnic groups. English is the official language. Other languages spoken in the territory include Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, and Fulani. Altogether, 521 languages are spoken in Nigeria. Muslims make up 50 percent of the population, Christians 40 percent, while the remainder adhere to indigenous beliefs.

General landmarks

Magnificent buildings abound in Abuja. There is the National Mosque with its golden dome glistening in the sun, and the bright pink Federal Secretariat Complex. Other landmarks include the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters, NNPC towers, Abuja International Conference Centre African Hall, Gurara Falls, Eagle Square, the National Assembly building, the National Mosque, the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja Stadium, the Velodrome, among others.

External links

• Nigerian Road Trip: Abuja BBC News, accessed June 12, 2008.
• Official site of Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and City of Abuja
• Abuja.Net
• Abuja Bid Announcement
• Pictures of Abuja
• Abujacity.com
• Interactive Maps and Sat Navs to travel around.

Credits

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