Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged European Union (EU) member states to strengthen investment partnerships, expand cultural exchanges, and collaborate more closely with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to drive growth in Abuja and across Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that Wike made the call on Tuesday while addressing EU Heads of Mission at the European Union House in Abuja, where he emphasised the importance of sustained cooperation in advancing development goals within the FCT.
“I thank the European Union Delegation to Nigeria for the invitation and continued partnership with the Nigerian government in advancing shared values of development, stability, and prosperity,” Wike said.
He added that, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the FCTA is focused on key priority areas and remains open to investment across multiple sectors.
“Today, drawing from the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I will briefly highlight the priority areas of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the investment opportunities therein, and offer an overview of Nigeria’s evolving political landscape,” he said.
The minister described Abuja as a business-friendly capital, identifying opportunities in real estate and housing, tourism and entertainment, agriculture, solid minerals, and waste management.
Wike noted that the administration is prioritising urban and rural development, infrastructure expansion, security, education, healthcare, social welfare, land reforms, revenue generation, and the rule of law.
“We have embarked on a deliberate and sustained investment in infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth and social inclusion by expanding road networks, modernising public transport, and improving water supply,” he said.
On security, he disclosed that the FCTA has strengthened infrastructure through the construction of 12 fully equipped divisional police headquarters and officers’ quarters across the six area councils.
Addressing governance and electoral reforms, Wike highlighted provisions in the amended Electoral Act, particularly regarding result transmission.
“In the newly amended Electoral Act, there is a provision for the electronic transmission of results. But because of our peculiarities, it was included that where electronic transmission fails, manual transmission can be used. Meanwhile, there is no such provision in the 2022 amended Electoral Act,” he explained.
He further stressed the need for constructive opposition in Nigeria’s democratic process, noting that dissent should provide alternatives rather than fuel instability.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s political system under President Tinubu is gradually shifting toward competence-driven governance, with reduced emphasis on ethnic, religious, and partisan considerations.
“Compared to earlier periods, there is a decline in highly volatile and rancorous politicking that characterised the relationship between the executive and the legislature. The relationship between these two key institutions has become that of ‘partners-in-progress’ in the making and implementation of policies and programmes for the welfare of Nigerians,” Wike said.
He also acknowledged that the administration’s policy direction involves bold and sometimes difficult reforms aimed at repositioning the economy and improving citizens’ welfare.
“The current administration, in its Renewed Hope Agenda framework, has made bold and at times, difficult reforms aimed at repositioning the economy and improving citizens’ welfare,” he said.
The meeting was chaired by the Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, who described the EU as Nigeria’s leading trade and investment partner. Envoys from several EU countries, including Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and Sweden, were in attendance.
