Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on member states of the European Union (EU) to strengthen investment partnerships and expand areas of collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to accelerate infrastructure development and economic growth in Abuja.
Wike made the appeal on Tuesday during an engagement with EU Heads of Mission at the European Union House in Abuja, where he outlined the administration’s development priorities and reform agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope programme.
The meeting, chaired by the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, was attended by envoys from Italy, Austria, Ireland, France, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Spain, Czech Republic and Denmark.
Describing Abuja as a business-friendly capital city with vast untapped potential, Wike identified real estate, tourism, entertainment, agriculture, solid minerals and waste management as critical sectors open for investment.
“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,” the minister said.
He stated that the FCTA had prioritised infrastructure expansion, healthcare, education, social welfare, security, land administration reforms and revenue generation as part of efforts to promote inclusive development in the territory.
According to him, the administration has intensified investments in road construction, public transportation and water supply to stimulate economic activities and improve living standards.
“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,” Wike stated.
The minister also disclosed that the FCTA had strengthened security infrastructure through the construction of 12 fully equipped divisional police headquarters and officers’ quarters across the six area councils of the FCT.
On governance reforms, Wike said amendments to the Electoral Act and growing reliance on constitutional mechanisms for dispute resolution reflected Nigeria’s democratic progress and increasing public confidence in institutions.
He argued that the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government had become more collaborative under the current administration, noting a decline in the rancorous politics that previously characterised governance.
“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,” he said.
Wike also defended ongoing economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification and tax reforms, describing them as difficult but necessary measures aimed at repositioning the economy.
He added that social intervention initiatives such as conditional cash transfers, support for small and medium-scale enterprises and the student loan scheme were introduced to cushion the impact of the reforms on vulnerable Nigerians.
While acknowledging the country’s security challenges, including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and farmer-herder conflicts, the minister assured the diplomats that government was intensifying efforts to improve intelligence gathering, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and enhance security architecture nationwide.
Earlier, Ambassador Mignot described the European Union as Nigeria’s largest trade and investment partner and reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to deepening cooperation with the country.
