ABUJA — The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called for deeper collaboration between the Federal Capital Territory Administration and European Union member states to boost investment, infrastructure development, and cultural exchange in Abuja.
Speaking at a meeting with EU Heads of Mission at the European Union House in Abuja, Wike said the FCT remains a strategic and business-friendly destination with vast investment opportunities in real estate, housing, agriculture, tourism, solid minerals, entertainment, and waste management.
He explained that the engagement aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises infrastructure expansion, security enhancement, education, healthcare delivery, and land administration reforms.
Wike highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including road expansion, improved public transport systems, water supply upgrades, and the construction of 12 new divisional police headquarters and officers’ quarters across area councils to strengthen security architecture in the territory.
According to him, these investments are aimed at driving economic growth, improving service delivery, and ensuring inclusive development across the FCT.
On governance and political reforms, Wike said Nigeria’s electoral framework is gradually evolving to strengthen transparency and credibility, noting improvements such as electronic transmission of results, while acknowledging provisions for manual fallback in areas with technical challenges.
He further emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy is maturing, with increasing reliance on constitutional and judicial processes to resolve political disputes rather than violence or self-help.
Wike also described the relationship between the executive and legislature as more cooperative under the current administration, adding that governance is increasingly focused on competence and national development rather than ethnic or partisan considerations.
The EU delegation, led by Ambassador Gautier Mignot, reaffirmed the European Union’s position as Nigeria’s leading trade and investment partner and expressed continued willingness to support development initiatives in the country.
The meeting was attended by ambassadors from several EU countries, including Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Poland, and others.
