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FCT Abuja
Centre of Unity
QUICK FACTS
*Population: 1,406,239 (2006 census) 3,564,126 (2016 forecast)
*Percentage of Nigeria's total population: 1%
*Population density: 814
*Landmass: 1,727.5 sq km (667 sq mi)
*Internally Generated Revenue: N92, 059,700,897.42 (2020)
**Capital: Abuja
**Area Councils: 6
**Current Minister: Mohammed Musa Bello (All Progressive Congress)
*National Bureau of Statistics
**Federal Capital Territory Administration

INTRODUCTION

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is part of the North-Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It has interstate boundaries with Nasarawa State to the East and Southeast, Niger State to the West and Northwest, Kaduna State to the Northeast, and Kogi State to the Southwest. Its capital, Abuja, is also the capital of Nigeria.

LANDMASS, LOCATION, AND POPULATION

The FCT covers an area of 1,727.5 square kilometres. It lies at latitude 8°50’ North and longitude 7°10’ East. It has a population of 1,406,239 (2006 census) 3,564,126 (2016 forecast) and a population density of 814. It accounts for 1% of Nigeria's total population.

HISTORY AND PEOPLE

The early settlers of the FCT were the Kwa-speaking people of Nigeria's middle belt region. The Kanuri people from Borno came to the area during the Fulani Jihad in the nineteenth century.
FCT was originally part of Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi States. It was established in 1976 by the Federal Capital Territory Act of the military government of General Murtala Muhammed.
Abuja is the first planned city in Nigeria and was built in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on December 12, 1991.
The main ethnic groups in the FCT are the Gbabyi, Koro, Gade, Bassa, Gwandara and Ganagana. There are nine languages in FCT. The Gbabyi people form the largest ethnic group and their language is the most widespread.
Christianity and Islam are the main religions, although traditional religions are practised by some of its inhabitants.

MAIN TOWNS AND CITIES

Abuja (capital), Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Lugbe.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

MINISTERS

Mobolaji Ajose Adeogun   (Military):   1976 – 1979
John Jatau Kadiya (Civilian -National Party of Nigeria): 1979 - 1982
Iro Abubakar Dan Musa (Civilian - National Party of Nigeria): 1982 - 1983
Haliru Dantoro (Military): 1983 - 1984
Mamman Vasta (Military):1984 - December 1985
Hamza Abdulahi (Military): 1986 - 1989
Gado Nasko (Military): 1989 - 1993
Jeremiah Useni (Military): 1993 - 1998
Mamman Kontagora (Military): 1998 - 1999
Ibrahim Bonu (Civilian - People's Democratic Party): 1999 - 2001
Abba Gana (Civilian - People's Democratic Party): 2001 - 2003
Nasir El-Rufai (Civilian - People's Democratic Party): 2003 - 2007
Aliyu Umar (Civilian - People's Democratic Party): 2007 - 2008
Adamu Aliero (Civilian -People's Democratic Party): 2008 - 2010
Bala Mohammed (Civilian - People's Democratic Party): 2010 - 2015.
Mohammed Bello (Civilian – All Progressives Congress): 2015 – Present

ECONOMY AND EDUCATION

Economic activity in the FCT is centred on agriculture. The area is predominantly savannah with sparse forests in its southern parts. Major crops include millet, corn, sorghum, rice, yam, cassava, plantain, groundnut and cowpeas. 
The commercial rearing of cattle, sheep, and goats is also an important economic activity. The main minerals found in the FCT are marble, tin, mica, clay, iron ore, gold, lead and talc.
The tertiary institutions in the FCT are University of Abuja, African University of Science and Technology, Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Baze University,  Veritas University, Dorben Polytechnic, and FCT College of Education.

FAMOUS SITES AND CULTURE
Sites
Zuma Rock, Madalla

Zuma Rock is a large natural monolith along the Abuja-Kaduna highway. It is composed of basement complex rock, specifically gabbro which is of igneous rock origin. 
The ripple marks on the rock are as a result of agitation by water.
Zuma Rock is one of the highest and largest monoliths in the world.

Jabi Lake, Jabi

This is a man-made lake found in the Jabi area of Abuja.  It has a surface area of about 1,300 hectares.

Lower Usuma Dam, Abuja

Lower Usuma Dam with 93 million cubic metres of water is the fifth largest dam in the world. Located on Usuma Lake, the dam was built in 1990 to supply water to Abuja.

Culture

The Koros who are among the nine indigenous ethnic groups in Abuja mark the Koro festival every year. One of the major activities during the festival is the performance by traditional dancers and drummers who appear in different regalia to entertain locals and guests, including their kinsmen from neighbouring Kaduna, Nasarawa and Niger States.
 The people of Gbagyi in Karu chiefdom are synonymous with the Karu festival where they display their cultural heritage.
The festival is marked with dance parade by masquerades while hunters display their prowess with bows, arrows and locally-fabricated guns.

NOTABLE INDIGENES

Ladi Kwali (1925– 1984)

DID YOU KNOW

Abuja is the first Nigerian city to be built as a planned city.

Further Description

FCT IN PICTURES