Why Nigeria moved its capital to Abuja

Lagos had two jobs

When Nigeria was divided into twelve states in 1967, Lagos became the capital of Lagos State as well as the federal capital. The dual role strained its roads, housing and services, and brought overpopulation and a high cost of living.^[1] By the mid-1970s Lagos was congested, short of infrastructure and had little room to expand.^[2]

On 9 August 1975 the government of General Murtala Muhammed set up a panel under Justice T.A. Aguda to decide whether Lagos should stay the capital, and if not, to find a place easy to reach from every part of the federation. It reported on 20 December 1975 that Lagos could not play both roles, not least because its 67.12 km² of land was far too little for a federal capital alone.^[1]

“a centrally-located Federal Capital in a spacious area with easy access to all parts of the Federation would be an asset to the Nation and would help in generating a new sense of National Unity”^[1]

A site in the middle

The panel recommended an area south of Suleja of 8,000 km².^[1] The site was chosen for its central location, easy access, pleasant climate, low population density and room to grow.^[4] Its position also favoured none of Nigeria’s major ethnic groups, in a country still healing from its civil war.^[2]

Murtala Muhammed announced the decision in a broadcast in February 1976. Archivi.ng dates it 4 February, while The Guardian (Nigeria) counts 3 February 1976 as one of Abuja’s two birthdays.^[2][3] Decree No. 6 of 1976 set up the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Capital Development Authority to plan and build the city. A nearby town had been called Abuja; it was renamed Suleja, and the name Abuja kept for the new capital.^[1]

Fifteen years to move

The Federal Capital Territory was carved out of Niger, Kwara and Plateau states, and a US-based consortium, International Planning Associates, drew up the master plan.^[2] The city was built during the 1980s on the Chukuku Hills, and it was Nigeria’s first planned city.^[4]

General Ibrahim Babangida moved the presidency from Lagos to Abuja on Thursday, 12 December 1991.^[2][3] Civil servants, ministries and agencies followed gradually, and embassies came after them. Lagos lost the government but stayed Nigeria’s commercial centre.^[2]