|
Location
| History | Agriculture
| Mineral | Education
| Tourism | People
| Local Government Areas | Links
| Contact
| Capital: |
N/A
|
|
| Area: |
7,315
km˛ |
| Population: |
5,000,000 (2005 est.) |
| Number
of Languages: |
Gade, Gbagyi, Gbari and Nupe are
major langs. |
| Minister: |
Mallam
Nasir el-Rufai |
| ISO
3166-2: |
NG-FC |
| Date
Created: |
3
February 1976 |
| Population
Rank: |
Ranked
|
The Federal Capital
Territory is the home of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
The Territory was formed in 1976 from parts of former
Nasarawa, Niger, and Kogi States. It is in the central
region of the country.
URL: www.fct.gov.ng
The Federal Capital
Territory lies between latitudes 8o 25'N and 9o
20'N and longitude 6o39'.
It
is bordered to the north by Kaduna State, to the east
by Nassarawa State, to the south-west by Kogi State
and to the west by Niger State.
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The
land of Abuja was the southwestern part of the ancient
kingdom of Zazzau (Zaria). The name "Abuja" was derived
from Abu Ja, a brother to Muhammadu Makau, the last
hausa ruler of Zaria. Makau had left Zaria after being
defeated by the Fulani and settled in the area now known
as Abuja. In 1825 his brother Abu Ja succeeded him as
the 62nd King of Zaria.
The full name of Abu Ja was Abubakar (shortened to "Abu")
and the name Ja was given to him because he was light
in complexion ("Ja" means red or fair in Hausa). Hence
he became known as "Abu-Ja", "Abu the fair one" (other
sources claim that the name "Ja" was derived fron the
last name of his father which was "Jatau").
Abu Ja built a new capital for his Kingdom and named
it "Abuja" after himself.
In August 1975 the then Federal Military Government
under Late General Murtala Muhammed convened a panel
of experts,under the Chairmanship of the Honourable
Justice T.A. Aguda, to study and advise on the desirability
of retaining Lagos as the Federal Capital of Nigeria.
The panel was also empowered to recommend a suitable
alternative location should it determine that the Federal
Capital be moved from Lagos.
Abuja was not the only place considered, several areas
such as Okene, Kafanchan, Markurdi, Ile, Auchi and Agege
were also suggested.
The
panel's recommendations for the setting up of the new
Federal Capital City, at Abuja (carved out of three
states Niger Plateau and Kogi (formerly Kwara)),
were accepted and the Federal Government then promulgated
Decree number 6 of 1976 which created the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), Abuja.
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Being
centrally located, Abuja is blessed with a mix of agricultural
produce such as tubers and root crops of the south (yams,
cassava, maize and plantains) and grain (sorghum, guinea
corn and rice) of the north.
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The
FCT has proven deposits of a wide range of mineral resources
including marble, tin, mica, clay, wolfromite, tantalite
and talc.
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University of Abuja ( www.widernet.org/nigeriaconsult/uniabj)
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Abuja Amusement Park, Resort/Man-made Zone 1, Wuse
* Abuja Gardens, Central Resort/man-made Area * Abuja
Zoological Garden, Zoo/Man-made Area 1, Garki * ECOWAS
Secretariat Man-made * Women Development Resort/Man-made
Centre * Abuja Plant Nursery Physical/Man- made * Aso
Rock Physical/Natural * Usman Dam Man-made * IBB Golf
Course Sports Tourism * Jabi Dam and Holiday Man-made/Resort
Resort.
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The
largest indigenous group in Abuja are the Gbabyi (also
known as the Gwari). The next largest indigineous group
are the Koro. Smaller indigineous groups also inhabit
the area, such as the Gade,Egbura, Gwandara, Bassa and
the Gana gana.
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The
FCT is divided into six area councils namely, Abuja
Municipal, Gwagwalada, Abaji, Kuje, Bwari and Kwali.
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Schools
on The Web:
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Abuja Chamber of Commerce:
Block 12, Zone 3
PMB 86, Garki
Wuse District
Tel: 09-5230453
Abuja
Investment and Property Development Company Limited
PMB 3302
Plot 770 Central Business District (Opp. the National
Mosque)
Tel: 09-5233352
Fax: 09-5233529
E-mail: asotect@skannet.com
State
Liason Office:
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