The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has made a compelling declaration on the world stage, joining global Mayors and city leaders at the prestigious 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai. Addressing the gathering on Tuesday, the Minister delivered a concise account of “Abuja’s bold steps toward becoming a world-class smart city,” detailing a strategic vision propelled by substantial public-sector and international investment.
According to a press statement released from Dubai, the capital’s ‘Smart City Vision’ is a strategic imperative underpinned by focused investment across five critical domains. Mr Wike articulated that this development is not merely cosmetic but a fundamental realignment of the city’s operational framework. These domains encompass Urban Mobility, focusing on the expansion of transportation networks and the adoption of intelligent traffic systems; Sustainability, through sophisticated smart waste management and crucial waste-to-wealth initiatives aimed at fostering a cleaner, greener environment; and Public Safety, achieved via the comprehensive deployment of CCTV surveillance and smart solar streetlights to enhance security across the metropolis.
Furthermore, the agenda is propelling advancements in Digital Governance, evidenced by the launch of platforms such as the FCT Call Centre and a digitised land registry to promote transparency and efficiency in service delivery. This digital push is intrinsically linked to Economic Empowerment, with the goal of stimulating job creation and attracting technology firms by expanding Abuja’s digital environment.
Mr Wike highlighted that this ambitious transformation is a testament to the FCT’s commitment to leveraging collaborative models. Abuja is actively engaging in city-to-city exchanges and public-private partnerships to accelerate innovation. The Minister specifically cited projects with JICA for Smart Water Metering and the integration of Chinese support for intelligence traffic lights. These ventures, alongside domestic initiatives such as the Abuja City Walk and the Abuja Industrial Park, signify a concerted effort to fuse global expertise with local opportunity. The Minister’s attendance also included a high-level bilateral meeting with the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy.
The Minister definitively reaffirmed that Abuja’s transformation, firmly anchored in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is rooted not merely in technology but in placing citizens at the absolute centre of development. He underscored the capital’s unique status as a “purpose-built and ever-evolving capital with a clear master plan,” and emphasised the importance of data in shaping future opportunities for the youth. This includes leveraging the upcoming Nigeria’s National Employment Database, developed with global partners, which will match skills with job opportunities and guide targeted training programmes led by the Abuja Enterprise Agency, ensuring the vision builds a safer, more inclusive, and prosperous environment for all inhabitants.
