The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has unveiled Abuja’s “Smart City Vision” before world leaders, highlighting strategic investments aimed at transforming the Nigerian capital into a model of modern urban development.
Speaking at the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, Wike said the city’s smart transformation is anchored on five key pillars — Urban Mobility, Sustainability, Public Safety, Digital Governance, and Economic Empowerment.
According to him, Abuja is making steady progress through collaborations with global development partners and the private sector. He cited projects such as the Smart Water Metering initiative with JICA, China’s support for intelligent traffic lights, as well as ongoing ventures like the Abuja City Walk and Abuja Industrial Park as examples of Abuja’s growing innovation ecosystem.
“Abuja’s Smart City Vision is not just about technology, but about people — building a safer, more inclusive, and prosperous environment for all,” Wike said.
He stressed that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the FCT administration is leveraging public-private partnerships and city-to-city collaborations to accelerate sustainable development.
Wike noted that Urban Mobility involves expanding transport networks and deploying intelligent traffic systems to ease congestion; Sustainability focuses on renewable energy and waste-to-wealth projects; Public Safety centers on CCTV surveillance and smart solar lighting; Digital Governance targets transparency through digitized systems like the FCT Call Centre and land registry; while Economic Empowerment aims to attract tech firms and create digital jobs for Abuja’s youth.
The Minister also emphasized the role of data in job creation, referencing Nigeria’s forthcoming National Employment Database, which he said would “match skills with job opportunities and support entrepreneurship through the Abuja Enterprise Agency.”
Earlier, Wike met with the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, to discuss partnerships in urban development and governance.
Other panelists at the forum included top executives from Digital Dubai Authority, Dubai Future Foundation, Crescent Enterprises, and Wilo Group, with discussions centered on leveraging technology for sustainable city management.
Wike was accompanied to the event by senior FCT officials, including Barr. Benedict Daudu, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, Mukhtar Galadima, Engr. Chuks Udeh, and Sani Musa Daura.
The Minister’s participation at the Dubai summit, according to his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, underscores Abuja’s growing role in global conversations around urban innovation and smart city development. Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us
