INTRO: Several
countries of the world have experimented with changing of the location of their
capital cities. Countries such as Brazil moved her capital city from Rio de
Janeiro to the built-for-the-purpose Brasilia in 1961; Kazakhstan moved from
Almaty to Astana in 1997; and Cote d'Ivoire moved from Abijan to Yamoussoukro
in 1983. In the year 1991, Nigeria joined the ranks of countries that for one
reason or another relocated their capital cities when she moved her capital
city from Lagos to Abuja.
The move
was initiated in 1975 by the military government of General Murtala Mohammed
when he set up a 7-man panel under the chairmanship of Dr. Akinola Aguda to
examine the issue of a new capital city for Nigeria. The panel after
their studies recommended Abuja and the military government under Decree
No. 6 of 1976 established the Federal Capital Development Authority to midwife
the planning, designing and developing of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Murtala administration did not live to complete what it started due to the
abortive but bloody coup of 1976 that claimed his life. Subsequent governments
contributed their quota during their reign but the dream was only actualized in
1991 by the military government of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
The reasons
for the relocation of Nigeria's capital city from Lagos to Abuja are as follows:
- Security
Purposes. Lagos is a coastal city bordering the
Atlantic Ocean. This geographical location leaves the city susceptible to
attacks from air or sea by enemy countries; and in a war, when a
capital city falls, the whole country has fallen. Unlike Lagos, Abuja is
located at the heart of Nigeria's land.
- Another
reason why Nigeria relocated her capital city from Lagos to Abuja was
overpopulation. Lagos is a densely populated city due
to the fact that it was not just the seat of power but also the commercial
nerve centre of Nigeria. It has been the destination for the bulk of
Nigeria's rural-urban migration in search of greener pasture. This
overpopulation causes serious congestion and environmental degradation,
makes nonsense of every developmental efforts in the city, and renders the
city unfit for a capital city.
- Lack
of Land for Expansion: Lagos has
limited area of land that will accommodate the future expansions of a
typical capital city. With an area of 8,000 sq. kms, Abuja is twice the
area of Lagos State. Currently covering 250 sq. km, Abuja still have over
7,000 sq. km in reserve for future expansion. The relocated capital city
in Nigeria ensures accommodation for future growth of the
city.
- Neutrality
of Abuja: Lagos is the land of the Yoruba tribe of
Nigeria. Even till today, Yoruba people are not happy when Lagos is
referred to as "no man's land." Unlike Lagos, Abuja bestrides
different tribes in a way that nobody could lay claim to the land. The
entire territory itself was carved out from three state, namely, Niger
State which contributed 79% of the land area and 71% of the indigenous
population, Nasarawa State which contributed 16% and 21% respectively, and
Kogi state which made a contribution of 5% and 8% respectively. This
neutral stance of the city explains why it is called the Centre of Unity.
- Purpose of the Cities: Lagos
city was not built for the purpose of being a capital city, and pushing
the city to fit the purpose if possible is not desirable because of the
socio-economic implications. Abuja was designed and built for the purpose
of being the capital city of Nigeria.
- Expression of Independence: Lagos
was made the capital by the colonial masters. Relocation of the capital
city from the former colonial base sends the message of repudiation across
to the former masters that "Nigeria has come of age, and is no longer
under the orbit of any extra continental power." Policies similar to
this relocation of the capital city was the changing of currency from
Pounds to Naira, and the system of government from Parliamentarism to
Presidentialism.
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