Editing Abuja (section)

== History ==
[[File:National Assembly Building with Mace, Abuja, Nigeria.jpg|thumb|[[National Assembly (Nigeria)|National Assembly]] Building with Mace, Abuja, Nigeria]]
[[File:Abuja Millenium Park 2019 01.jpg|thumb|Millenium Park]]
Abuja was in the earlier 20th century the name of the nearby town now called [[Suleja]].<ref name="fcda-about">{{cite web|title=The New Federal Capital|url=http://fcda.gov.ng/index.php/about-fcda/the-new-federal-capital|website=Federal Capital Development Authority |language=en-gb|date=2018|access-date=20 May 2018|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519161443/https://fcda.gov.ng/index.php/about-fcda/the-new-federal-capital|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The indigenous inhabitants of Abuja are the Abawa (Ganagana), [[Basa languages|Basa]], [[Gwandara]], [[Gbagyi]] (Gwari) having the majority population in the region. Other groups in the area include the [[Gade (language)|Gade]], [[Dibo language|Dibo]], Egburra, [[Nupe people|Nupe]] and [[Nkoroo language|Koro]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barnabas |first=Sylvanus Gbendazhi |date=2018-08-03 |title=Abuja Peoples of Nigeria as Indigenous Peoples in International Law |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15718115-02502002 |journal=International Journal on Minority and Group Rights |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=431–457 |doi=10.1163/15718115-02502002 |s2cid=150133231 |issn=1385-4879}}</ref>

The [[Gwandara]] speaking people in Abuja are mostly found in AMAC and [[Bwari]] Area Council.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The “Gwandara Speaking” People of Gwagwa – Abuja – GWADECA |url=https://gwadeca.org.ng/2020/09/05/the-gwandara-speaking-people-of-gwagwa/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> Some of their villages/settlements are Wuse, Asokoro now relocated to Sabon Wuse, Aso in Niger and other neighbouring states. Others are [[Karshi Abuja|Karshi]], [[Kurudu, Abuja|Kurudu]], [[Nyanya (Abuja)|Nyanya]], [[Idu, Abuja|Idu]], [[Gwagwa]], [[Jiwa, Abuja|Jiwa]], [[Sheretti]], [[Karmo, Abuja|Karmo]], Takunshara, [[Burum, Abuja|Burum]], [[Dutse Alhaji]], [[Zuba, Nigeria|Zuba]], [[Kuje]], [[Kwoi]], [[Karon-Magaji]], [[Ija]], [[Kanwu]], [[Sherre]].
<ref>{{cite web|title=Abuja|url=http://www.oaugf.ng/6thawam2016/index.php/about/abuja|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105033527/http://www.oaugf.ng/6thawam2016/index.php/about/abuja |archive-date=Jan 5, 2022 }}</ref> In the light of the ethnic and religious [[Demographics of Nigeria|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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Abuja {{!}} Geography, Development, & Population |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Abuja-national-capital-Nigeria|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Britannica|language=en}}</ref> 

Another impetus for Abuja came because of [[Lagos]]' population boom that made that city overcrowded and conditions squalid.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Makinde |first1=Adeyinka |title=Abuja: Constructing Nigeria's Federal Capital {{!}} Ambitious Plans, Corrupt Practices {{!}} 1983 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPxOIU0-nlE&ab_channel=AdeyinkaMakinde |website=Youtube |date=15 May 2020 |access-date=6 September 2020}}</ref> As Lagos was already undergoing rapid economic development, the Nigerian government felt the need to expand the economy towards the inner part of the country, and hence decided to move its capital to Abuja.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naij.com/574434-nigeriaat55-top-5-reasons-nigerias-capital-moved-lagos-abuja-photos.html|title=#NigeriaAt55: Top 5 Reasons Nigeria's Capital Was Moved From Lagos To Abuja (PHOTOS)|first=Omotayo|last=Yusuf|date=1 October 2015}}</ref> The logic used was similar to the way Brazil planned its capital, [[Brasília]].

The Federal Military Government of Nigeria promulgated decree No. 6 on 4 February 1976, which initiated the removal of the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja.<ref name="The Political History of Nigeria's">{{cite journal |last1=Moore |first1=Jonathan |title=The Political History of Nigeria's New Capital |journal=The Journal of Modern African Studies |date=March 1984 |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=167–175 |doi=10.1017/S0022278X00056846 |jstor=160334 |s2cid=154848195 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/160334 |access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="naij-why">{{cite web|last1=Yusuf|first1=Omotayo|title=Why The Capital Was Moved From Lagos To Abuja|url=https://www.naija.ng/574434-nigeriaat55-top-5-reasons-nigerias-capital-moved-lagos-abuja-photos.html#574434|website=Naija.ng – Nigeria news.|date=1 October 2015}}</ref> The initial work for Abuja's planning and implementation was carried out by the Military Government of General's [[Murtala Mohammed]] and [[Olusegun Obasanjo]]. However, the foundation of Abuja was under the Administration of Shehu Shagari in 1979.<ref name="The Political History of Nigeria's" /> Construction started in 1979 but, due to economic and political instability, the initial stages of the city were not complete until the late 1980s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=FCDA|title=Abuja: The Making of new Capital city for Nigeria|year=1988}}</ref>

The move of Nigeria's Capital to Abuja was controversial, and the biggest opposition to it was led by [[Obafemi Awolowo]].<ref name="jstor.org">{{cite journal |last1=Moore |first1=Jonathan |title=The Political History of Nigeria's New Capital |journal=The Journal of Modern African Studies |date=March 1984 |volume=22 |issue=1 |page=173 |doi=10.1017/S0022278X00056846 |jstor=160334 |s2cid=154848195 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/160334 |access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref> Awolowo, as a politician and a representative of the Yoruba people, defended their claims against the move of the Capital from Lagos. During the hotly-contested campaign for the presidency, he vowed to hire the American [[Walt Disney Company]] to convert the new site (Abuja) into an amusement park if he was elected.<ref name="jstor.org" /> However, after his election as president, Alhaji [[Shehu Shagari]] laid the first foundation for Abuja's infrastructure and pushed for its early completion. His first journey outside of Lagos after his election was to Abuja, where he visited contractors and workers on site to urge a speedy completion of the project. On his return, he confided in Alhaji [[Abubakar Koko]] his disappointment with the slow progress of work.<ref name="jstor.org" /> Shehu Shagari rescheduled the planned relocation to Abuja from 1986 to 1982 which later proved difficult.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Moore |first1=Jonathan |title=The Political History of Nigeria's New Capital |journal=The Journal of Modern African Studies |date=March 1984 |volume=22 |issue=1 |page=174 |doi=10.1017/S0022278X00056846 |jstor=160334 |s2cid=154848195 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/160334 |access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref>

The International Planning Associates (IPA) was commissioned in June 1977, by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federal Capital Development Authority – Builders of Abuja, Nigeria |url=http://fcda.gov.ng/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> to produce the Abuja Master Plan and its regional grid.<ref>{{cite book|last=Elleh|first= Nnamdi|title= Abuja, the single most ambitious urban design project of the 20th century|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=huHVAAAAMAAJ&q=+%22Wallace%2C+McHarg%2C+Roberts+and+Todd%22|year= 2001|publisher= VDG, Verlag und Datenbank für Geisteswissenschaften|isbn= 978-3-89739-165-9}}</ref> According to the terms of reference, the master planning process was to include a review of relevant data, selection of a capital city site, preparation of regional and city plans and the accompanying design and development standards manual.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shuaibu |first1=Umar |title=Unsung heroes of Abuja master plan |date=16 March 2020 |url=https://viewpointhousingnews.com/2020/03/16/unsung-heroes-of-abuja-master-plan/ |access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref>

IPA did not exist prior to the Nigerian Government's engagement with an internationally reputable firm to design the master plan. IPA was formed by a consortium of three American firms which won the worldwide competitive bidding. The firms were Planning Research Corporation (PRC), Wallace, McHarg, Roberts and Todd, and Archisystems (a division of the Hughes Organisation). After winning the bid, and completing the project, the firms were disbanded.

The final report was submitted to the pioneer Executive Secretary of FCDA, Alhaji [[Abubakar Koko]], on 15 February 1979. In the preface to the master plan, the following declaration was made by IPA:
{{Blockquote|text="The master plan for Abuja the new Capital City of Nigeria represents the culmination of 18 months' work by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) board, and several advisory panel consultants. Without the unstinting efforts of these experts, the momentum now exhibited at the beginning of the actual implementation of the new capital could not have been achieved. The plan itself represents a milestone in the process of building the new capital city. It is a necessary element in the monumental effort about to be undertaken by the Nigerian people."}}

The master plan for Abuja defined the general structure and major design elements of the city that are now visible. 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.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Alkasum|first=Abba|title=Abuja: The Making of a Capital City, 1976–2006|year=2012}}</ref> Most countries relocated their [[embassy|embassies]] to Abuja, and many maintain their former embassies as [[Consul (representative)|consulates]] in [[Lagos]], the commercial capital of Nigeria.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, shuts schools amid COVID-19 |website=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nigeria-lagos-idUSKBN28S2S4 |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref> Abuja is the headquarters of the [[ECOWAS|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.<ref name="WBC">{{cite web |url=https://www.abuad.edu.ng/lagos-recognition-as-commercial-capital-city-of-nigeria/https://www.abuad.edu.ng/lagos-recognition-as-commercial-capital-city-of-nigeria/ |title=World Bank Conference: African Regional Roundtable on Upgrading Low-income Settlements |access-date=2007-08-10 |work=citiesalliance.org |publisher=World Bank, 3–5 October 2000, Johannesburg, South Africa, p. 16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928045105/http://www.citiesalliance.org/cdsdb.nsf/Attachments/South%2BAfrica%2Broundtable/%24File/African%2BRegional%2BRoundtable%2Bon%2BUpgrading%2BOct00.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Squatter settlements and towns have spread rapidly in and outside the city limits.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="fig">{{cite web |url=http://www.fig.net/pub/accra/papers/ts18/ts18_01_jibril.pdf|title=Resettlement Issues, Squatter Settlements and the Problems of Land Administration in Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital|access-date=2007-08-10 |work=fig.net |publisher=5th FIG Regional Conference Accra, Ghana, 8–11 March 2006}}</ref> Tens of thousands of people have been [[eviction|evicted]] since former FCT minister [[Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai]] started a demolition campaign in 2003.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/13/world/africa/13abuja.html |title=In a Dream City, a Nightmare for the Common Man |access-date=2007-08-10 |work=nyt.com |publisher=New York Times, 13 December 2006 | first=Lydia | last=Polgreen | date=13 December 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Ekoko|first=K.O|title=El – Rufai and Abuja Urban renewal policies|year=2006}}</ref>
Abuja is a [[planned community|planned city]] built mainly in the 1980s based on a [[Comprehensive planning|master plan]] by International Planning Associates (IPA),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ogbuenyi |first=Nosike |date=2022-02-03 |title=Abuja at 46: The Dreams, Strides, Challenges |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/features-and-interviews/509441-abuja-at-46-the-dreams-strides-challenges.html |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=Premium Times Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="amlsnconference">{{Cite web |title=The Nigeria Capital City |website=AMLSN National Conference |url=https://amlsnconference.org/the-nigeria-capital-city/ |access-date=2022-11-07 |language=en-GB |archive-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226000031/https://amlsnconference.org/the-nigeria-capital-city/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Balogun |first=Ola |title=The Federal capital territory of Nigeria: A Geography of its development |publisher=University of Ibadan Press |year=2001 |location=Ibadab |language=English}}</ref> a consortium of three [[United States|American]] planning and [[architecture]] firms made up of Wallace, Roberts, McHarg & Todd (WRMT – a group of architects) as the lead, Archi systems International (a subsidiary of the Howard Hughes Corporation), and Planning Research Corporation. The Central Business [[District]] of Abuja was designed by Japanese architect [[Kenzo Tange]].<ref name="Tange">{{cite web|title=Central area of New Federal Capital City of Nigeria|url=https://en.tangeweb.com/works/works_no-66/|access-date=2022-02-19|website=Tange Associates|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="bbc">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6355269.stm|title=Life of poverty in Abuja's wealth|access-date=2007-08-10 |work=news.bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC News, Tuesday, 13 February 2007 | date=13 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=titel |title=Build a house in Japan {{!}} Connect with Japanese Architects {{!}} titel |url=https://titel.jp/en |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=titel (タイテル) |language=en}}</ref>