By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, appears to be set to partner with the Government of Japan towards updating the 1979 Abuja Master Plan.
This strategic partnership, it was gathered was aimed at aligning the city’s growth with modern realities through the year 2050.
FCT Minister made this known while receiving the Japanese delegation led by the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Suzuki Hideo in company of the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency in Nigeria, Mr Ishigame Meiji in Abuja.
Wike,while speaking during the meeting expressed profound appreciation for Japan’s historical and technical contributions to Nigeria, noting that the original blueprint of the FCT owes much to Japanese expertise.
According to him,”Thank you for coming this morning. On behalf of the FCT Administration, I appreciate the relationship between Nigeria and Japan.
“I am fully aware of the projects through JICA. It is very key for us because I do know the design of Abuja was done by Japan, and now they need to look at it again in order to carry out other structural development.”
The Minister commended the Japanese government for its consistency in supporting the education, health, and nutrition sectors, specifically highlighting the training of Nigerian teachers in Tokyo.
“We will continue to cooperate with you to see that this is actualized. It should provide an environment where you continue to partner with us and see that the leadership agenda of Mr. President comes to reality,” Wike added, while accepting an invitation to lead a delegation to Japan for a high-level study tour.
Earlier, Ambassador Suzuki Hideo lauded Wike’s leadership and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to “co-creating a shared future” with Nigeria. He emphasized that the development of Abuja as a political and administrative hub is vital for the nation’s overall progress.
“The government of Japan and JICA have been engaged in various development projects, including not only basic infrastructure such as electricity and healthcare but also the construction of a hub facility that serves as a center for startup support,” the Ambassador stated.
Ambassador Hideo also invited the Minister to a handover ceremony scheduled for March 26th for a pilot plastic collection facility, a joint initiative with UNIDO aimed at promoting the plastics value chain in the capital.
Providing a technical breakdown of the intervention, JICA Chief Representative, Mr. Ishigame Keiji, revealed that the agency is ready to move quickly into priority infrastructure development with “visible and rapid results.”
“Our goal is to upgrade the original 1979 Master Plan to meet the needs of Abuja up to the year 2050,” Ishigame explained.
“We are focusing on four key value additions: driving economic development and job creation, integrating the private sector, ensuring sustainability through strategic environmental assessment, and addressing contemporary themes like climate resilience and social inclusion.”
Ishigame detailed JICA’s extensive portfolio in the FCT, which includes a $9 million solar power project for water treatment that saves the FCT Water Board 31 million Naira annually, an $11 million diagnostic upgrade for the NCDC, and a $12 million project to stabilize the city’s power grid.
The project will be managed by five technical working groups comprising JICA experts and officials from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). According to the roadmap, 2026 will serve as the “foundational year” for the review, with full implementation strategies expected to be finalized by 2027.
