Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital and Symbol of Unity was created in 1976 by the Federal Military Government via decree No. 6. Prior to its creation, Nigeria was administered from Lagos as its capital.
The search for a new capital for Nigeria began in earnest on 9th August, 1975 when the Federal Military Government set up the Justice Akinola Aguda panel to examine the dual role of Lagos retaining that role. The Aguda Panel was mandated to, among other things, recommend which of the two governments, Federal or State, should move to a new location in the circumstance of finding Lagos unfit for its dual role. Where it decided that the Federal and not the state should move, the panel was to recommend a suitable alternative site as the new Federal Capital.
In December 1975 the Panel submitted its report and declared that Lagos was no longer capable of shouldering the dual role of being the nation's capital as well as that of Lagos State in addition to being the commercial and industrial nerve-centre of the country. These aspects rendered Lagos ineffective as the seat of government.
It therefore recommended that the Federal Capital of Nigeria be removed from Lagos and be sited in a vast, virgin territory in the county's heartland. In choosing Abuja, the Panel listed centrality of location, easy accessibility from all parts of the country and healthy climate conditions. The seat of Government was formerly relocated to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on December 12, 1992.
The FCT is strategically situated in the centre of the country. It lies above the hot and humid low lands of the Niger and Benue rivers, North of the alluvial plains formed by the confluence of the two rivers. Within the geographical context, the Federal Capital Territory consists of a tilted plain rising from an elevation of 300 feet in the south-west corner to above 2,000 feet at the north-east corner. Rising out of this tilted plain are numerous rocky knobs and several ranges of low mountains. The entire Federal Capital Territory occupies an approximate land area of 8,000 square kilometres. Abuja is made up of six local government area namely; Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari and Kwali.
Since 1992 Abuja has grown in leaps and continues to the adequately serve as the seat of government as well as accommodate international visitors and events in a friendly environment.
