The 4^th of February, 2026, marked the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

In August 1975, the then Military Government of General Murtala Muhammed set up the Akinola Aguda Committee on the suitability and continuation of Lagos as the Capital of Nigeria or the relocation of the Capital City to a new location using certain terms of reference.

On the recommendation of the Committee, the Capital Territory (FCT) Decree No 6 of 1976, which is now an Act of the National Assembly, was promulgated, establishing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with an area of 8000 square kilometres and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) respectively.  The FCDA was charged with the responsibility of planning, development and administration of Nigeria’s new Federal Capital City, Abuja, and the Territory as a whole.

The decision to relocate the country’s capital from Lagos was necessitated by the fact that Lagos had become overpopulated with no room for expansion and the attendant challenges of environmental pollution and chaotic traffic congestion, among other factors.

Fifty years since its establishment, the FCDA, amidst sundry challenges, has continued to deliver on its mandate through successive administrations. The FCDA, under the Chairmanship of the Board and Minister of the FCT, His Excellency, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON, has become more enabled in project delivering as the Minister is relentless in delivering land -mark projects that bring government closer to the people by impacting communities across the entire territory as part the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

At the inception the of the Wike- led Federal Capital Territory Administration, 25 projects were inherited, completed and commissioned. 7 new projects were initiated, completed and commissioned. The minister also resurfaced over 135 roads in various Districts within the Phase 1 of the city. There are currently 30 roads initiated and are at various stages of completion.

Herein are some pictures depicting the developmental strides of the FCT Administration in infrastructure delivery as Abuja’s 50 years of existence is being marked.