Abuja: The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has announced that the FCT Administration is actively transforming Abuja into Nigeria’s most investor-friendly business environment. The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of the Abuja Business and Investment Expo 3.0, organized by the Abuja Investments Company Ltd.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Wike’s remarks, delivered by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, emphasized that Abuja is open for credible local and international investment. However, he warned that land speculators and fraudulent developers undermining the Abuja Master Plan would not find refuge in the territory. Wike highlighted that the ongoing transformation of the nation’s capital under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda lays a foundation for sustainable economic growth driven by private sector investment.
Wike noted that infrastructure is crucial for economic development, and the FCTA has launched an urban renewal program to position Abuja as Africa’s preferred investment destination. Under this program, the Tinubu administration is heavily investing in road construction, water supply expansion, transportation infrastructure, healthcare, and educational development. The administration has moved beyond promises to deliver tangible results through the completion of abandoned projects, opening new development corridors, and extending critical infrastructure to satellite towns and area councils.
The FCTA’s efforts have yielded significant results, as reflected in its performance in the 2025 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Subnational Ease of Doing Business assessment, where it ranked fourth nationally with a 61 percent performance score. This ranking underscores the administration’s commitment to improving governance and simplifying investment processes.
Wike declared that the FCTA would continue working until Abuja becomes Nigeria’s top investment destination and one of Africa’s most competitive business hubs. Ongoing reforms in land administration, digital governance, revenue collection, and institutional accountability aim to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, enhance transparency, and provide investors with a predictable and secure business environment. Wike reiterated the administration’s commitment to supporting genuine investors while warning against fraudulent practices that undermine investor confidence.
He highlighted several priority sectors for strategic partnerships, such as real estate, transportation, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, education, renewable energy, technology, creative industries, waste management, and urban infrastructure. Wike urged investors to explore opportunities in rapidly developing satellite towns and emerging districts, stressing that Abuja’s next economic expansion phase will extend beyond the traditional city center.
Wike assured investors that the FCTA would continue providing world-class infrastructure, policy stability, and an enabling environment while expecting the private sector to deliver quality projects, create employment, and contribute to economic development. He expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between government and the private sector would accelerate Abuja’s emergence as a globally competitive capital city and a leading destination for investment, innovation, tourism, and enterprise.
In her remarks, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of AICL, Amb. Maureen Tamuno, stated that the Expo serves as a strategic platform for fostering partnerships, attracting investments, and unlocking the FCT’s vast economic potential. Tamuno noted that the Expo’s theme, ‘Building Nigeria’s Capital: Investment as a Catalyst for Economic Growth,’ aligns with the FCTA’s vision of positioning Abuja as a globally competitive investment destination through improved infrastructure, innovation, and private sector collaboration.
Tamuno commended Wike for his role in driving transformational infrastructure and urban renewal projects, significantly enhancing the territory’s attractiveness to investors. She disclosed that participants at the three-day Expo would engage in investment forums, exhibitions, networking sessions, and policy dialogues covering strategic sectors such as real estate, infrastructure, technology, renewable energy, solid minerals, sports, and the creative economy. Tamuno encouraged investors, development partners, and the business community to capitalize on the FCT’s vast opportunities, expressing confidence that the Expo would generate strategic partnerships and investments to accelerate Abuja and Nigeria’s economic growth.