Abuja
is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within
the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Abuja is a planned city, and was built
mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December
1991, replacing Lagos, which is still the country's most populous city. At the
2006 census, the city of Abuja had a population of 776,298, making it one of
the ten most populous cities in Nigeria. Abuja has witnessed a huge influx of
people into the city which has led to the emergence of satellite towns such as
Karu Urban Area, Suleja, Gwagwalada, Lugbe, Kuje and smaller settlements to
which the planned city is sprawling towards. The unofficial metropolitan area
of Abuja has a population of well over three million, which makes it the fourth
largest urban area in Nigeria, only suppassed by Lagos, Kano and Ibadan.
Abuja's
geography is defined by Aso Rock, a 400-metre monolith left by water erosion.
The Presidential Complex, National Assembly, Supreme Court and much of the town
extend to the south of the rock.
Other
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. Abuja is known for being the best purpose-built city in
Africa as well as being one of the wealthiest and most expensive; however, the
population on the semi-developed edges of the city are living in rural areas
such as Mararaba and Karu, Nasarawa State.
History
In
light of the ethnic and religious divisions of Nigeria, plans had been devised
since Nigeria's independence to have its capital in a place deemed neutral to
all parties. The location was eventually designated in the centre of the
country in the early 1970s as it signified neutrality and national unity.
Another impetus for Abuja came because of Lagos' population boom that made that
city overcrowded and conditions squalid. The logic used was similar to the way
Brazil planned its capital, Brasília. Construction broke ground and was
dedicated in the late 1970s but, due to economic and political instability, the
initial stages of the city were not complete until the late 1980s.
The
master plan for Abuja and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was developed by
International Planning Associates (IPA), a consortium of three American firms:
Planning Research Corporation; Wallace, McHarg, Roberts and Todd; and
Archisystems, a division of the Hughes Organization. The master plan for Abuja
defined the general structure and major design elements of the city that are
visible in its current form. More detailed design of the central areas of the
capital, particularly its monumental core, was accomplished by Kenzo Tange, a
renowned Japanese architect, with his team of city planners at Kenzo Tange and
Urtec company.
Most
countries relocated their embassies to Abuja, and many maintain their former
embassies as consulates in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria. Abuja is
the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and
the regional headquarters of OPEC. Abuja and the FCT have experienced huge
population growth; it has been reported that some areas around Abuja have been
growing at 20% to 30% per year. Squatter settlements and towns have spread
rapidly in and outside the city limits. Tens of thousands of people have been
evicted since former FCT minister Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai started a demolition
campaign in 2003.
The
FCT's ministers have been as follows:
1.
Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun
1976-1979
2.
John Jatau Kadiya,
1979–1982
3.
Iro Abubakar Dan Musa,
1982–1983
4.
Haliru Dantoro,
1983–1984
5.
Mamman Jiya Vatsa,
1984–December 1985
6.
Hamza Abdullahi,
1986–1989
7.
Gado Nasko, 1989–1993
8.
Jeremiah Timbut Useni,
1993–1998
9.
Mamman Kontagora,
1998–1999
10.Ibrahim
Bunu, 1999–2001
11. Mohammed
Abba Gana, 2001–2003
12.Nasir
Ahmad el-Rufai, 2003–May 2007
13.Aliyu
Modibo, 2007–2008
14.Adamu
Aliero, 2008–2010
15.Bala
Abdulkadir Mohammed, 2010–present
Districts
The
Phase 1 area of the city is divided into ten districts known as cadastral
zones: the
1.
Central Cadastral Zone
A00
2.
Garki I District
Cadastral Zone A01
3.
Wuse 1 District
Cadastral Zone A02
4.
Garki II District
Cadastral Zone A03
5.
Asokoro Cadastral Zone
A04
6.
Maitama Districts
Cadastral Zone A05
7.
Maitama Cadastral Zone
A06
8.
Wuse II Districts
(Cadastral Zone A07 & Cadastral Zone A08)
9.
Guzape District
Cadastral Zone A09
There
are also sixteen districts in Phase 2. They are
1.
Kukwuaba Cadastral
Zone B00,
2.
Gudu Cadastral Zone
B01,
3.
Durumi Cadastral Zone
B02,
4.
Wuye Cadastral Zone
B03,
5.
Jabi Cadastral Zone
B04,
6.
Utako Cadastral Zone
B05,
7.
Mabuchi Cadastral Zone
B06,
8.
Jahi Cadastral Zone
B08,
9.
Kado Cadastral Zone
B09,
10.Dakibiyu
Cadastral Zone B10,
11. Kaura
Cadastral Zone B11,
12.Duboyi
Cadastral Zone B12,
13.Gaduwa
Cadastral Zone B13,
14.Dutse
Cadastral Zone B14.
15.Katampe
Ext Cadastral Zone B19,
And
the Phase 3 districts are
1.
Institution and
Research Cadastral Zone C00,
2.
Karmo Cadastral Zone
C01,
3.
Gwarimpa Cadastral
Zone C02.
4.
Dape Cadastral Zone
C04,
5.
Kafe Cadastral Zone
C05
6.
Nbora Cadastral Zone
C06,
7.
Galadimawa Cadastral
Zone C07,
8.
Dakwo Cadastral Zone
C08,
9.
Lokogoma Cadastral
Zone C09,
10.Wumba
Cadastral Zone C10,
11. Idu
Industrial Cadastral Zone C16
There
are five suburban districts: Nyanya, Karu, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, and Jukwoyi.
Along the Airport Road are clusters of satellite settlements, 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).
Central District
Abuja's
Central District, also called Central Area, spans from the foot of Aso Rock,
across the Three Arms Zone, to the southern base of the inner ring road. It is
like the city's spinal cord, dividing it into the northern sector with Maitama
and Wuse, and the southern sector with Garki and Asokoro. While each district
has its own clearly demarcated commercial and residential sectors, the Central
District is the city's principal Business Zone, where practically all
parastatals and multinational corporations have their offices. An attractive
area in the Central District is the region known as the Three Arms Zone, so
called because it houses the administrative offices of the executive, legislative
and judicial arms of the federal government. A few of the other sites worth
seeing in the area are the federal secretariats alongside Shehu Shagari Way,
Aso Hill, the Abuja Plant Nursery, Eagle Square (which has important historic
significance, as it was in this grounds that the present democratic
dispensation had its origin on 29 May 1999) and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
across the road facing it. The National Mosque and National Church of Nigeria
are opposite each other on either side of Independence Avenue.[10] A well-known
government office is the Ministry of Defense, colloquially nicknamed "Ship
House".
Garki District
The
Garki District is the area in the southwest corner of the city, having the
Central District to the north and the Asokoro District to the east. The
district is subdivided into units called "Areas". Garki uses a
distinctive naming convention of "Area" to refer to parts of Garki.
These are designated as Areas 1 to 11. Garki II is used to differentiate the
area from Garki Area 2. Visitors may find this system confusing.
Garki
is presently the principal business district of Abuja. Numerous buildings of
interest are in this area. Some of them include the General Post Office, Abuja
International Conference Centre along the busy Herbert Maculay Way, Nicon
Luxury Hotel (formally known as Abuja Sofitel Hotel and Le Meridian), Agura
Hotel and Old Federal Secretariat Complex Buildings (Area 1). A new five-star
hotel, Hawthorn Suites Abuja, is in Garki II.
Area
2 is mainly used for residential purposes, although a zoological garden as well
as Garki Shopping Centre are in Area 2. Several banks and other commercial
offices are located along Moshood Abiola Way in Area 7. The headquarters of the
Nigerian Armed Forces – Army, Airforce and Navy – are all in the Garki
District.
The
tallest building in this district is the Radio House, which houses the Federal
Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Federal Radio Corporation
of Nigeria (FRCN). The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) stations and
corporate headquarters are based in Garki. The Federal Capital Development
Authority (FCDA) which oversees and runs the Administration of the Federal
Capital Territory has its offices in Garki.
The
Office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is in Area 10.
Other places of note include the Arts and Culture Centre and The Nigerian
Police Mobile Force headquarters in Area 10. The Abuja Municipal Area Council,
which is the local government administration has its headquarters in Area 10.
The new United States Embassy is in the Garki district.
Wuse District
Wuse
District is the northwestern part of the city, with the Maitama District to its
north and the Central District to its south. The District is numbered Zones
1–8. The Wuse Market is Abuja's principal market (Zone 5). The second most
important post office in the city is here. This district houses the Sheraton
Hotel and Towers (Zone 4), Ibro International hotel, the Foreign Affairs
Ministry Headquarters (Zone 3) and Nigerian Customs Services Headquarters,
Federal Civil Service Commission (Zone 3), Federal Road Safety Commission
(FRSC), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration (NAFDAC) (Zone 7),
Wuse General Hospital, and the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation. Just
as Garki District has Garki II, Wuse has Wuse II. This is distinct from Wuse
Zone 2.
Maitama District
Maitama
District is to the north of the city, with the Wuse and Central Districts lying
to its southwest and southeast respectively. This area is home to the top
bracket sections of society and business, and has the reputation of being very
exclusive and very expensive. Interesting buildings include the Transcorp
Hilton Hotel, Nigerian Communications Commission Headquarters (NCC), National
Universities Commission (NUC), Soil Conservation Complex, and Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC). The British High Commission is located
along Aguiyi Ironsi Way, in Maitama. Also, the Maitama District Hospital is
another notable building in Maitama. Maitama District is home to many of the
European embassies.
Asokoro District
Asokoro
District, the doyen of the districts, houses all of the state's lodges/guest
houses. The ECOWAS secretariat is a focal point of interest. Asokoro is to the
east of Garki district and south of Central district. It is one of the most
exclusive districts of Abuja and houses virtually all of the federal cabinet
ministers; in addition, the Presidential Palace (commonly referred to as the Aso
Rock) is in Asokoro district. By virtue of this fact, Asokoro is the most
secure area of the city.
Gwarimpa District
Gwarimpa
is the last district in the Abuja Municipal Area Council. It is a 20-kilometer
drive from the central district and contains the largest single housing estate
in Nigeria, the Gwarimpa Housing Estate. The estate was built by the
administration of General Sani Abacha and is the largest of its kind in Africa.
It provides residence for the majority of the civil servants in federal ministries
and government parastatals. The ECOWAS Court has an official quarters for the
President and Members of the Court in Gwarimpa.
Durumi District
Durumi
District is located southwest of Abuja and is bordered by Garki Districts I and
II to the northeast. Its borders are the Oladipo Dia Road to the southwest, the
Nnamdi Azikiwe Express Way to the northeast, and Ahmadu Bello Way to the
southeast.[12][13]
The
American International School of Abuja is located in the Durumi District.
Radio
stations
1.
88.9 - Brila FM
(Abuja) - sports
2.
92.1 - Vision FM
3.
92.9 - Kapital FM
4.
93.5 - ASO Radio
5.
94.7 - Rhythm FM
(Abuja)
6.
96.9 - Cool FM (Abuja)
7.
98.3 - Hot FM (Abuja)
8.
99.5 - Wazobia FM
(Abuja)
9.
99.9 - Kiss FM (Abuja)
10.100.5
- RayPower FM (Abuja)
11. 104.5
- Love FM (Abuja)
12.95.1
- Nigeria Info
13.106.3-
WE FM
Climate
Abuja
under Köppen climate classification features a tropical wet and dry climate.
The FCT experiences three weather conditions annually. This includes a warm,
humid rainy season and a blistering dry season. In between the two, there is a
brief interlude of harmattan occasioned by the northeast trade wind, with the
main feature of dust haze, intensified coldness and dryness.
The
rainy season begins from April and ends in October, when daytime temperatures
reach 28 °C (82.4 °F) to 30 °C (86.0 °F) and nighttime lows hover around 22 °C
(71.6 °F) to 23 °C (73.4 °F). In the dry season, daytime temperatures can soar
as high as 40 °C (104.0 °F) and nighttime temperatures can dip to 12 °C (53.6
°F). Even the chilliest nights can be followed by daytime temperatures well
above 30 °C (86.0 °F). The high altitudes and undulating terrain of the FCT act
as a moderating influence on the weather of the territory.
Rainfall
in the FCT reflects the territory's location on the windward side of the Jos
Plateau and the zone of rising air masses with the city receiving frequent
rainfall during the rainy season from March to November every year.
Vegetation
The
FCT falls within the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic zone of the West African
sub-region. Patches of rain forest, however, occur in the Gwagwa plains,
especially in the rugged terrain to the south southeastern parts of the
territory, where a landscape of gullies and rough terrain is found. These areas
of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) form one of the few surviving
occurrences of the mature forest vegetation in Nigeria.
Skyline and landmarks
The
Abuja skyline is made up of mostly mid-range and a few tall buildings. Only
recently have tall buildings begun to appear. Most of the buildings are modern,
reflecting that it is a new city.
Plans
have been made to build skyscrapers such as the Millennium Tower which is
currently under construction. When finished, this structure will loom 170
meters above the city. The tower will be part of a huge cultural development
complex called the Nigeria National Complex including the Nigeria Cultural
Centre, a 120.000 m2 structure dedicated to the art and culture of Nigeria. The
Cultural Centre and the Millennium Tower have been designed by the Italian
architect Manfredi Nicoletti.
Landmarks
include the Millennium Tower (which is currently under construction), the
Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters, the Nigerian Presidential Complex, the
Ship House, the National Stadium, National Mosque the Christian Centre, the
Castle of Law, Aso Rock and Zuma Rock
1.
Headquarters of the
Central Bank of Nigeria in Abuja
2.
National Church of
Nigeria
3.
Abuja National Mosque
4.
Ship House, Defense
Headquarters
5.
Zuma rock
6.
Abuja City Gate
7.
Millennium Park
8.
One of the many
fountains in Millennium Park
9.
Kano municipal council
gate and clock tower
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