Abuja - Wikipedia Abuja Municipality in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria Abuja Municipality Federal Capital City ( FCC ) Abuja Municipal Area From top ( L -- R ) : View of a street in Maitama District, Abuja National Mosque, Zuma Rock, fountain in Millennium Park, Central Bank headquarters, and skyline of CBD at night Abuja Location of Abuja in Nigeria Coordinates : 9 ° 4 ′ N 7 ° 29 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 9.067 ° N 7.483 ° E ﻿ / 9.067 ; 7.483 Coordinates : 9 ° 4 ′ N 7 ° 29 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 9.067 ° N 7.483 ° E ﻿ / 9.067 ; 7.483 Country Nigeria Territory Federal Capital Territory LGA ( s ) Abuja Municipal Area Council ( AMAC ) Settled 1828 Incorporated 1 October 1984 Declared capital 12 December 1991 Government City Planner Federal Capital Development Authority ( FCDA ) City Management Abuja Metropolitan Management Council ( AMMC ) Area Municipality 1,769 km ( 683 sq mi ) Land 1,728 km ( 667 sq mi ) Water 41 km ( 16 sq mi ) Urban 713 km ( 275 sq mi ) Elevation 840 m ( 2,760 ft ) Population ( 2011 estimate ) Municipality 1,235,880 Rank 7th Density 700 / km ( 1,800 / sq mi ) Urban 2,440,000 Urban density 3,423 / km ( 8,870 / sq mi ) Metro 6,000,000 ( estimated ) Time zone WAT ( UTC + 1 ) Postal codes 900211 -- 900288 Climate Aw Website www.fcta.gov.ng Abuja ( / əˈbuːdʒə / ) is the capital city of Nigeria located in the centre of the country within the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ). It is a planned city and was built mainly in the 1980s, replacing the country 's most populous city of Lagos as the capital on 12 December 1991. Abuja 's geography is defined by Aso Rock, a 400 - metre ( 1,300 ft ) monolith left by water erosion. The Presidential Complex, National Assembly, Supreme Court and much of the city extend to the south of the rock. Zuma Rock, a 792 - metre ( 2,598 ft ) monolith, lies just north of the city on the expressway to Kaduna. 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. According to the United Nations, Abuja grew by 139.7 % between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest growing city in the world. As of 2015, the city is experiencing an annual growth of at least 35 %, retaining its position as the fastest - growing city on the African continent and one of the fastest - growing in the world. As at 2016, the metropolitan area of Abuja is estimated at six million persons, placing it behind only Lagos, as the most populous metro area in Nigeria. Major religious sites include the Nigerian National Mosque and the Nigerian National Christian Centre. The city is served by the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Abuja is known for being one of the few purpose - built capital cities in Africa, as well as being one of the wealthiest. Abuja is Nigeria 's administrative and political centre. It is also a key capital on the African continent due to Nigeria 's geo - political influence in regional affairs. Abuja is also a conference centre and hosts various meetings annually, such as the 2003 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting and the 2014 World Economic Forum ( Africa ) meetings. Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 2.2 Vegetation 3 Administration 3.1 Abuja Municipal Area Council 3.2 Federal Capital Territory 3.3 Districts 4 Cityscape 4.1 Parks and open areas 4.1. 1 Bush Bars 4.2 Central Business District 4.3 Garki District 4.4 Wuse District 4.5 Maitama District 4.6 Asokoro District 4.7 Gwarimpa District 4.8 Durumi District 5 Demographics 5.1 Conurbation 6 Economy and infrastructure 6.1 Postal system 6.2 Transportation 6.2. 1 Airport 6.2. 2 Highways 6.2. 3 Rail 7 Education 7.1 Universities 7.2 International schools 8 Twin towns -- sister cities 9 See also 10 References 11 External links History Nigeria 's National Assembly in Abuja `` Abuja '' was in the earlier 20th century the name of the nearby town now called Suleja. The indigenous inhabitants of Abuja are the Gbagyi ( Gwari ) as the major language, Bassa, Gwandara, Gade, Ganagana, Koro etc. 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 major ethnic parties, and also in close proximity to all the regions of Nigeria. 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. As Lagos was already undergoing rapid economic development, the Nigerian regime felt the need to expand the economy towards the inner part of the country, and hence decided to move its capital to Abuja. The logic used was similar to the way Brazil planned its capital, Brasília. The decision to move to Abuja was made by General Murtala Mohammed in 1976. Construction started 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 Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, 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. Geography Climate Abuja under Köppen climate classification features a tropical wet and dry climate ( Köppen : Aw ). 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 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. The city 's inland location causes the diurnal temperature variation to be much larger than coastal cities with similar climates such as Lagos. 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 April to October every year. hide Climate data for Abuja Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high ° C ( ° F ) 34.7 ( 94.5 ) 36.8 ( 98.2 ) 36.9 ( 98.4 ) 35.6 ( 96.1 ) 32.7 ( 90.9 ) 30.6 ( 87.1 ) 29.1 ( 84.4 ) 28.9 ( 84 ) 30.0 ( 86 ) 32.0 ( 89.6 ) 34.4 ( 93.9 ) 34.6 ( 94.3 ) 33 ( 91.5 ) Average low ° C ( ° F ) 20.4 ( 68.7 ) 25.5 ( 77.9 ) 24.3 ( 75.7 ) 24.7 ( 76.5 ) 19.5 ( 67.1 ) 18.3 ( 64.9 ) 21.9 ( 71.4 ) 17.7 ( 63.9 ) 17.5 ( 63.5 ) 21.4 ( 70.5 ) 15.7 ( 60.3 ) 15.5 ( 59.9 ) 20.2 ( 68.4 ) Average rainfall mm ( inches ) 1.7 ( 0.067 ) 5.4 ( 0.213 ) 11.3 ( 0.445 ) 62.8 ( 2.472 ) 134.1 ( 5.28 ) 164.2 ( 6.465 ) 217.5 ( 8.563 ) 262.7 ( 10.343 ) 253.4 ( 9.976 ) 103.2 ( 4.063 ) 3.7 ( 0.146 ) ( 0.047 ) 1,221.2 ( 48.08 ) Average rainy days 0.1 0.2 1.3 4.2 9.4 12.3 14.0 16.2 15.9 8.0 0.3 0.1 82 Source : World Meteorological Organization. Vegetation This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2018 ) 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 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. Administration Abuja city is run by the Abuja Municipal Area Council. In addition to the civic administration the city is the location for the federal government of Nigeria, and likewise the Federal Capital Territory Administration which is responsible for the encompassing Federal Capital Territory. Abuja Municipal Area Council The Abuja Municipal Area Council is the local government responsible for administration of the city. Coucillorship and chairmanship elections are held regularly. The People 's Democratic Party won the 2013 election, as it had in 2010. Federal Capital Territory Main article : Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria The FCT is headed by the FCT Minister, currently Malam Muhammad Bello, who is appointed by central government. The FCT Minister appoints members to the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council ( AMMC ) The FCT 's ministers have been as follows : Mobolaji Ajose - Adeogun 1976 -- 1979 John Jatau Kadiya, 1979 -- 1982 Iro Abubakar Dan Musa, 1982 -- 1983 Haliru Dantoro, 1983 -- 1984 Mamman Jiya Vatsa, 1984 -- December 1985 Hamza Abdullahi, 1986 -- 1989 Gado Nasko, 1989 -- 1993 Jeremiah Timbut Useni, 1993 -- 1998 Mamman Kontagora, 1998 -- 1999 Ibrahim Bunu, 1999 -- 2001 Mohammed Abba Gana, 2001 -- 2003 Nasir Ahmad el - Rufai, 2003 -- May 2007 Aliyu Modibo, 2007 -- 2008 Adamu Aliero, 2008 -- 2010 Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, 2010 -- 2015 Mohammed Bello, 2015 -- Present Districts The Millennium tower is still under construction. A view of the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters Ceddi Plaza is one of the shopping malls in the Abuja Central Area. Grand Square is another shopping centre in the Central Area. Sahad Stores is a large department store popular with shoppers. National Christian Centre For ease and co-ordination of developmental efforts, the city was divided into ' Phases ' by its planners, with the city 's development taking a concentric form with Phase 1, which consists of the city 's inner districts - Central Area, Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, Wuse II, Garki, Garki II, Guzape and Guzape II - at its core spreading out from the foot of Aso Rock, while Phase 5, consisting of the newly created Kyami District covering the vicinity of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the permanent campus of the University of Abuja, over 40 kilometres west of Aso Rock. Each Phase is separated from the other by an expressway ( some still under construction ) ; for example, Phases 1 and 2 are separated from each other by the Nnamdi Azikiwe expressway, while the entirety of the city proper ( Phases 1 - 5 ) are enclosed by the Murtala Muhammed ( Outer Northern - ONEX and Outer Southern - OSEX ) expressways as well as the Federal A2 highway which traverses the Federal Capital Territory on its way to Kaduna ( north - bound ) and Lokoja ( south - bound ). Thus there is an integration of the city 's road network with the Federal highway network, providing access to the immediate outlying countryside and the surrounding states of the country i.e. Niger State to the west, Kaduna State to the north, Nasarawa State to the east and Kogi State to the south. The Phase 1 area of the city is divided into ten districts known as cadastral zones. Central Cadastral Zone A00 Garki I District Cadastral Zone A01 Wuse 1 District Cadastral Zone A02 Garki II District Cadastral Zone A03 Asokoro Cadastral Zone A04 Maitama District Cadastral Zone A05 & A06 Wuse II Districts ( Cadastral Zone A07 & Cadastral Zone A08 ) Guzape District Cadastral Zone A09 There are also sixteen districts in Phase 2. Kukwuaba Cadastral Zone B00 Gudu Cadastral Zone B01 Durumi Cadastral Zone B02 Wuye Cadastral Zone B03 Jabi Cadastral Zone B04 Utako Cadastral Zone B05 Mabuchi Cadastral Zone B06 Jahi Cadastral Zone B08 Kado Cadastral Zone B09 Dakibiyu Cadastral Zone B10 Kaura Cadastral Zone B11 Duboyi Cadastral Zone B12 Gaduwa Cadastral Zone B13 Dutse Cadastral Zone B14 Katampe Ext Cadastral Zone B19 A street in the Katampe ( Diplomatic ) extension neighbourhood. There are eleven districts in Phase 3. Institution and Research Cadastral Zone C00 Karmo Cadastral Zone C01 Gwarimpa Cadastral Zone C02 Dape Cadastral Zone C04 Kafe Cadastral Zone C05 Nbora Cadastral Zone C06 Galadimawa Cadastral Zone C07 Dakwo Cadastral Zone C08 Lokogoma Cadastral Zone C09 Wumba Cadastral Zone C10 Idu Industrial Cadastral Zone C16 There are five suburban districts : Nyanya, Karu, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, and Jukwoyi. Along the Airport Road ( Now Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Express Way ) 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 ). Cityscape This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2018 ) Spectators at a football match held in the Abuja National Stadium 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 were made to build skyscrapers such as the Millennium Tower which is partly completed as work has stalled for the last few years. This structure looms 170 metres ( 560 ft ) above the city. The tower is part of a huge cultural development complex called the Nigeria National Complex including the Nigeria Cultural Centre, a 120,000 m ( 1,300,000 sq ft ) 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, the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters, the Nigerian Presidential Complex, the Ship House, the National Stadium, which was the main venue of the 2003 All Africa Games and some games, including the final, of the 2009 FIFA Under - 17 World Cup, National Mosque, the National Church, Aso Rock and Zuma Rock. Abuja City Gate Zuma rock Abuja National Mosque The National Cenotaph houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and hosts Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremonies on 15 January annually. The Federal Ministry of Transportation headquarters. The grounds of Eagle Square shown here being readied for a church event. A view of the Millenium tower as seen from the Federal Secretariat just before sunset. The Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ). INCAR Plaza. SEC Tower, home of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Parks and open areas Jabi lake Abuja is home to several parks and green areas with the largest one being Millennium Park. Millennium Park was designed by architect Manfredi Nicoletti and was officially opened by the United Kingdom 's Elizabeth II in December 2003. Another open area park is located in Lifecamp Gwarimpa ; near the residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The park is located on a slightly raised hilltop which contains sport facilities like Basketball and Badminton courts another park is the city park, it is located in wuse 2 and is home to numerous outdoor and indoor attractions such as a 4D cinema, astro - turf, lawn tennis court, paintball arena and a variety of restaurants. Bush bars Abuja has a variety of informal spaces known as `` Bush Bars '' that usually, though not always, include a covered area with tables and chairs where people can sit and have drinks ( alcoholic and non-alcoholic ) and sometimes there are snacks such as suya, grilled catfish, pounded yam, egusi soup and other small items available for purchase and they are located all over Abuja. Central business District Abuja 's Central District, also called Central Area, is a strip of land stretching from Aso Rock in the east to the National stadium and the Old City gate in the West.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 in which all subsequent Presidential Inauguration ceremonies have taken place. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is situated across Shehu Shagari Way facing the Eagle Square. This section is usually closed to traffic during the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremonies that is observed on 15 January. The National Mosque and National Church of Nigeria are opposite each other on either side of Independence Avenue. A well - known government office is the Ministry of Defense, colloquially nicknamed `` Ship House ''. Also located here is the yet - to - be-completed National Square, Millennium tower and Nigeria Cultural Centre multi-functional complex. Garki District This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2018 ) The NICON Luxury hotel is located in Area 11. 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 and administrative 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. Area 2 is mainly used for residential purposes, although a zoological garden as well as a small shopping Centre are to be found here as well. 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 -- is located on Muhammadu Buhari Way in the Garki District. The tallest building in this district is the Radio House located at the Area 11 sector, which houses the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria ( FRCN ) and Voice of Nigeria ( VON ). The Nigerian Television Authority ( NTA ) stations and corporate headquarters are also 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 11. This is the location of the Federal Capital Development Authority and other administrative buildings. A popular sub-neighbourhood here is found in the vicinity of Gimbiya street, because it has the unique characteristic of being a purely administrative zone on weekdays, while transforming into a purely entertainment zone on weeknights and weekends. A view of Gimbiya Street in Area 11 of Garki The ' City Centre ' is a new community mall located along Gimbiya street in Area 11. Other places of note include the Cyprian Ekwensi Arts & Culture Centre and The Nigerian Police Mobile Force CID ( Criminal Investigation Department ) 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 Diplomatic Zone which adjoins Garki. Wuse District This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2018 ) 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 -- 6. The Wuse Market is Abuja 's principal market. The second most important post office in the city is here. This district houses the Sheraton Hotel and Towers ( Zone 4 ), Grand Ibro International hotel, the Federal Road Safety Corps Headquarters ( Zone 3 ), Nigerian Customs Services Headquarters, Federal Civil Service Commission ( Zone 3 ), 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 This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2018 ) Millennium Park in 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 and Asian embassies. Asokoro District This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2018 ) 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 as well as most of the diplomatic community in the city ; 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 - kilometre ( 12 mi ) 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 Diya Road to the southwest, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Express Way to the northeast, and Ahmadu Bello Way to the southeast. The American International School of Abuja is located in the Durumi District. Demographics At the 2006 census, the city of Abuja had a population of 776,298, making it then the eighth most populous city in Nigeria. United Nations figures showed that Abuja grew by 139.7 % between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest growing city in the world. As of 2015, the city is experiencing an annual growth of at least 35 %, retaining its position as the fastest - growing city on the African continent and one of the fastest - growing in the world. Conurbation Abuja has witnessed a huge influx of people into the city ; the growth has led to the emergence of satellite towns, such as Karu Urban Area, Suleja, Gwagwalada, Lugbe, Kuje and smaller settlements towards which the planned city is sprawling. The urban agglomeration centred upon Abuja had a population estimated at 2,440,000 in 2014. The metropolitan area of Abuja was estimated in 2016 as six million persons, the country 's second most populous metro area. The city has a large and growing immigrant community consisting mainly of nationals from the ECOWAS sub-region. The city has been undergoing a rapid pace of physical development over the last fifteen years. Economy and infrastructure Postal system Abuja is served by the Nigerian Postal Service which maintains postal codes, street names and zones. Transportation Airport Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is the main airport serving Abuja and the surrounding capital region. It was named after Nigeria 's first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe. The airport has international and domestic terminals. Highways A view of a section of the Outer Northern Expressway, ONEX ( Maitama Avenue intersection ), with the IBB International Golf course to the right and the Nigerian Army Resource centre and Aso Rock to the left. Abuja is also linked to Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue and Northeast Nigeria by the A234 Federal Highway, which starts from the city as the Goodluck Jonathan expressway, some portions of which are still under construction. A direct highway link to Minna in Niger State is still under construction. The A2 expressway links Abuja with Kaduna in the north and Lokoja in the south. There are also other highway links with the outlying region, such as that linking the suburb of Dutse Alhaji with the Lower Usuma and Gurara Dams, which supply water to the city. Rail Abuja is on the route of the planned Lagos -- Kano Standard Gauge Railway, which has been completed between Abuja and Kaduna. Trains for Kaduna depart from the Idu Railway Station in Abuja. There is a car park at the train station for passengers traveling to the city centre. A light rail system is now under construction, including a station at Idu. Education Universities African Institute of Science and Technology Baze University Nigerian Turkish Nile University University of Abuja Veritas University National Open University of Nigeria Nile University International schools Whiteplains British School, Jabi American International School of Abuja Twin towns -- sister cities Toronto, Canada Buffalo, United States See also Centenary City Nigeria portal References ^ Jump up to : `` Federal Capital Territory ( Nigeria ) ''. City Population. Retrieved 26 October 2015. ^ Jump up to : Jaiyeola, Andrews. `` FCT Minister Harps on Development of Satellite Towns ''. ^ Jump up to : Demographia ( January 2015 ). Demographia World Urban Areas ( PDF ) ( 11th ed. ). Retrieved 2 March 2015. Jump up ^ `` Define Abuja 's at Dictionary.com ''. dictionary.com. Random House, Inc. Retrieved 14 April 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Life of poverty in Abuja 's wealth ''. news.bbc.co.uk. BBC News, Tuesday, 13 February 2007. 2007 - 02 - 13. Retrieved 2007 - 08 - 10. ^ Jump up to : `` Legal Notice on Publication of 2006 Census Final Results '' ( PDF ). Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 19 March 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` World 's Fastest Growing Cities are in Asia and Africa ''. Euromonitor. 2 March 2010. Archived from the original on October 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Top 5 Cities To Do Business In Nigeria. ABUJA Is 2nd ''. Abuja Facts. 22 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2015. Jump up ^ Murray, Senan. `` Life of poverty in Abuja 's wealth. '' BBC. Tuesday 13 February 2007. Retrieved on 12 September 2011. Jump up ^ `` The New Federal Capital ''. fcda.gov.ng. 2018. Jump up ^ Yusuf, Omotayo ( 1 October 2015 ). `` # NigeriaAt55 : Top 5 Reasons Nigeria 's Capital Was Moved From Lagos To Abuja ( PHOTOS ) ''. Jump up ^ Yusuf, Omotayo ( 1 October 2015 ). `` Why The Capital Was Moved From Lagos To Abuja ''. Naija.ng - Nigeria news. Jump up ^ Elleh, Nnamdi. Abuja, the single most ambitious urban design project of the 20th century. Jump up ^ `` World Bank Conference : African Regional Roundtable on Upgrading Low - income Settlements '' ( PDF ). www.citiesalliance.org. World Bank, 3 -- 5 October 2000, Johannesburg, South Africa, p. 16. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2007. Jump up ^ `` Resettlement Issues, Squatter Settlements and the Problems of Land Administration in Abuja, Nigeria 's Federal Capital '' ( PDF ). fig.net. 5th FIG Regional Conference Accra, Ghana, 8 -- 11 March 2006. Retrieved 2007 - 08 - 10. Jump up ^ Polgreen, Lydia ( 13 December 2006 ). `` In a Dream City, a Nightmare for the Common Man ''. nyt.com. New York Times, 13 December 2006. Retrieved 2007 - 08 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Abuja Nigeria Tourist Information ''. Touristlink.com. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 30. Jump up ^ World Weather Information Service - Abuja, World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 1 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` FCT Poll : Pdp Wins 5 of 6 Area Councils ''. Nigerian Voice. 18 March 2013. Jump up ^ `` How Nigeria is shared under Jonathan ''. Vanguard News. Retrieved 25 May 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Contact Us ''. Retrieved 25 May 2015. Jump up ^ Jeremy. `` Sunday, August 27, 2006 Abuja bush bars ''. Retrieved 22 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` Nigerian Suya Recipe : For Nigerians in Diaspora ''. Copyright © 2013 allnigerianrecipes.com -- All Rights Reserved. Retrieved 22 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` Independence Avenue ''. Wikimapia.org. 2012 - 11 - 18. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Ship House ''. Wikimapia.org. 2012 - 11 - 18. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Durumi ( Abuja ) Nigeria / Abuja Federal Capital Territory / Zubo / Abuja ''. wikimapia.org/. Retrieved 22 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` Abuja F.C.C. Developed Districts ''. Nairaland.com. Retrieved 22 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` American International School ''. Google+. Retrieved 22 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` American International School, Abuja ''. American International School of Abuja. Retrieved 22 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` Welcome To Nigerian Postal Service ! ''. Nipost.gov.ng. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 30. Jump up ^ Agabi, Chris ( 23 June 2016 ). `` NRC begins Abuja - Kaduna daily free train service ''. Daily Trust. External links Media related to Abuja at Wikimedia Commons Abuja official website Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Abuja. Articles related to Abuja Abuja Districts Central District Garki District Wuse District Maitama District Asokoro District Gwarimpa DIstrict Phase 1 : Central Garki I Wuse I Wuse II Garki II Asokoro Maitama Guzape Phase 2 : Kukwuaba Gudu Durumi Wuye Jabi Utako Mabuchi Jahi Kado Dakibiyu Kaura Duboyi Gaduwa Dutse Katampe Phase 3 : Institution and Research Karmo Gwarimpa Dape Kafe Nbora Galadimawa Dakwo Lokogoma Wumba Idu Industrial Suburban districts : Nyanya Karu Gwagwalada Kubwa Jukwoyi Landmarks Aso Rock Presidential Complex National Assembly Supreme Court Abuja National Mosque Nigerian National Christian Centre Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Zuma Rock Millennium Tower CBN headquarters, NNPC towers Abuja International Conference Centre Nigerian Communications Commission building National Library of Nigeria Castle of Law National Ecumenical Centre of Nigeria Abuja Stadium Ecowas Secretariat Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre National Arbotetum I.B.B. Golf Club Pedam Dam The World Trade Centre Universities University of Abuja Nigerian Turkish Nile University Baze University The African University of Science and Technology Primary and secondary schools École Française Marcel Pagnol German School Abuja American International School of Abuja Whiteplains British School Capitals of African states Dependent territories and states with limited recognition are in italics Abuja, Nigeria Accra, Ghana Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Algiers, Algeria Antananarivo, Madagascar Asmara, Eritrea Bamako, Mali Bangui, Central African Republic Banjul, Gambia Bissau, Guinea - Bissau Brazzaville, Rep. of the Congo Bujumbura, Burundi Cairo, Egypt Conakry, Guinea Dakar, Senegal Djibouti, Djibouti Dodoma, Tanzania El Aaiún ( claimed ) / Tifariti ( factual ), Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Freetown, Sierra Leone Funchal, Madeira Gaborone, Botswana Harare, Zimbabwe Hargeisa, Somaliland Jamestown, St Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha Juba, South Sudan Kampala, Uganda Khartoum, Sudan Kigali, Rwanda Kinshasa, D.R. Congo Libreville, Gabon Lilongwe, Malawi Lomé, Togo Luanda, Angola Lusaka, Zambia Malabo, Equatorial Guinea Mamoudzou, Mayotte Maputo, Mozambique Maseru, Lesotho Mbabane ( executive ) Lobamba ( legislative ), Swaziland Mogadishu, Somalia Monrovia, Liberia Moroni, Comoros Nairobi, Kenya N'Djamena, Chad Niamey, Niger Nouakchott, Mauritania Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Port Louis, Mauritius Porto - Novo, Benin Praia, Cape Verde Pretoria ( executive ) Cape Town ( legislative ) Bloemfontein ( judicial ), South Africa Rabat, Morocco Saint - Denis, Réunion Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas, Canary Islands São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe Tripoli, Libya Tunis, Tunisia Victoria, Seychelles Windhoek, Namibia Yamoussoukro ( political ) Abidjan ( economic ), Ivory Coast Yaoundé, Cameroon An unrecognised or partially - recognised nation British Overseas Territory Overseas region of France Autonomous region of Portugal Autonomous community of Spain All - Africa Games host cities 1965 : Brazzaville 1973 : Lagos 1978 : Algiers 1987 : Nairobi 1991 : Cairo 1995 : Harare 1999 : Johannesburg 2003 : Abuja 2007 : Algiers 2011 : Maputo 2015 : Brazzaville 2019 : Luanda Federal Capital Territory Territory capital : Abuja Local Government Areas Abaji Abuja Municipal Bwari Gwagwalada Kuje Kwali hide Largest cities in Nigeria Aba Abakaliki Abeokuta Abuja Ado Ekiti Akure Asaba Awka Bauchi Benin City Birnin Kebbi Calabar Dutse Eket Enugu Gombe Gusau Ibadan Ife Ikeja Ikot - Abasi Ikot Ekpene Ikoyi Ilorin Iseyin Iwo Jalingo Jimeta Jos Kaduna Kano Katsina Lafia Lagos Lokoja Maiduguri Makurdi Minna Nnewi Nsukka Ogbomosho Okene Onitsha Ondo City Oron Osogbo Owerri Owo Oyo Port Harcourt Potiskum Sokoto Suleja Umuahia Uyo Warri Wukari Yenagoa Yola Zaria GND : 4365226 - 8 LCCN : n82129670 VIAF : 243839696 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abuja&oldid=854266631 '' Categories : Abuja Capitals in Africa Federal Capital Territory ( Nigeria ) Local Government Areas in the Federal Capital Territory ( Nigeria ) Planned capitals Populated places in the Federal Capital Territory ( Nigeria ) Populated places established in the 1970s Cities in Nigeria Planned cities in Nigeria 1970s establishments in Nigeria Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from January 2013 Articles with short description Coordinates on Wikidata Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2015 All articles containing potentially dated statements All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from January 2018 Articles needing additional references from January 2018 All articles needing additional references All articles with failed verification Articles with failed verification from May 2018 Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikinews Wikivoyage Acèh Afrikaans Akan አማርኛ Arpetan Asturianu Azərbaycanca বাংলা Bân - lâm - gú Башҡортса Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Bikol Central Български བོད ་ ཡིག Bosanski Brezhoneg Català Чӑвашла Cebuano Čeština ChiShona Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Fiji Hindi Føroyskt Français Frysk Gaeilge Gàidhlig Galego Gĩkũyũ 客家 語 / Hak - kâ - ngî 한국어 Hausa Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Ido Igbo Bahasa Indonesia Interlingue Ирон IsiXhosa Íslenska Italiano עברית Basa Jawa Kapampangan ქართული Қазақша Kinyarwanda Kiswahili Kongo Kreyòl ayisyen Кыргызча Кырык мары Latina Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Lingála Lumbaart Magyar मैथिली Македонски Malagasy മലയാളം मराठी მარგალური مازِرونی Bahasa Melayu Mìng - dĕ̤ng - ngṳ̄ Монгол မြန်မာဘာသာ Nāhuatl Nederlands नेपाली 日本 語 Нохчийн Nordfriisk Norsk Norsk nynorsk Novial Occitan ଓଡ଼ିଆ Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی Papiamentu Patois Piemontèis Polski Português Qaraqalpaqsha Română Runa Simi Русский Scots Shqip Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Soomaaliga کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் Taqbaylit ไทย Тоҷикӣ Türkçe Удмурт Українська اردو Vèneto Vepsän kel ' Tiếng Việt Võro Winaray 吴语 ייִדיש Yorùbá 粵語 Zazaki Žemaitėška 中文 Kabɩyɛ Lingua Franca Nova 131 more Edit links This page was last edited on 10 August 2018, at 03 : 00 ( UTC ). 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Question: when was abuja became the capital of nigeria
Answer: 12 December 1991