ntroduction
The capital of Nigeria is the young city of Abuja. Built in the 1980s, Abuja officially replaced the crowded coastal city of Lagos as the capital on December 12, 1991. The site for the new city was chosen largely because of its central location, its good climate, and the availability of land for future expansion.
Geography
Abuja is located near the center of Nigeria, about 300 miles (480 kilometers) northeast of Lagos. It lies within the Federal Capital Territory, which is situated at the meeting point of the Niger and Benue rivers. Built on the grass-covered Chukuku Hills, Abuja sits at an elevation of 1,180 feet (360 meters). The climate is cooler and less humid than that of Lagos.
Cityscape
Abuja was the first planned city to be built in Nigeria. It is divided into two zones. The central area contains the National Assembly, the city hall, national cultural institutes, and other government-related offices. The other zone provides housing, shopping facilities, and other urban services. The University of Abuja was founded in 1988.
Roads link Abuja to cities throughout Nigeria. Abuja also has an international airport.
History
The city lies just south of the old town of Abuja, which was founded in 1828. The original town was named after its founder, whose name means “Abu the Red.” It is now called Suleja.
Planning for the new city of Abuja started in 1976, when the Federal Capital Territory was created. A sharp drop in Nigeria's oil revenues delayed the start of construction until 1980. Ethnic and religious unrest within the country also slowed progress. By the time Abuja became the national capital in 1991, however, much of the city's structure, including its water and telephone systems, was in place. Beginning in the 1980s, Abuja's population grew dramatically. Population (1995 estimate), Federal Capital Territory, 423,400.
