Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has launched a renewed drive to position Abuja as Nigeria’s premier investment destination, assuring investors of a transparent, business-friendly environment while declaring zero tolerance for land fraud, speculative allocations and illegal developments.
The minister said the era of land racketeering and impunity in the nation’s capital was coming to an end, warning that individuals and organisations undermining the Abuja Master Plan would face the full weight of the law.
Speaking at the opening of the Abuja Business and Investment Expo (ABIE) 3.0 on Wednesday, Wike, represented by the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was implementing far-reaching reforms designed to unlock investment, stimulate economic growth and strengthen investor confidence.
A statement by media adviser to the minister Austine Elemue indicated that the sweeping infrastructure renewal programme being executed under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda had transformed Abuja into one of the country’s fastest-growing investment destinations, with major improvements in roads, transportation, water supply, healthcare, education and urban development.
According to the minister, the administration has shifted from policy declarations to visible projects by completing abandoned infrastructure, opening up new development corridors and extending essential services to satellite towns and Area Councils.
“Abuja is open for business, and we are determined to make it the preferred destination for investors seeking stability, transparency and opportunities for sustainable growth,” he said.
Wike disclosed that reforms in land administration, digital governance, revenue management and institutional accountability were already reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and creating a more predictable business environment.
He noted that the FCT’s fourth-place ranking in the 2025 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Subnational Ease of Doing Business Index was evidence that ongoing reforms were yielding positive results.
Despite the milestone, he said the administration’s ambition was to make Abuja the number one destination for investment in Nigeria and a globally competitive capital city.
The minister, however, warned that the FCTA would aggressively confront fraudulent land allocations, multiple ownership claims and illegal developments that threaten orderly urban growth.
“We will continue to encourage and protect genuine investors, but there will be no hiding place for land speculators, fraudulent developers or anyone attempting to undermine the Abuja Master Plan. A thriving investment climate must be built on transparency, accountability and respect for the law,” he declared.
He identified real estate, agriculture, tourism, transport, healthcare, education, renewable energy, technology, waste management, urban infrastructure and the creative economy as sectors offering enormous opportunities for investors.
Wike urged businesses to look beyond the city centre, describing the rapidly expanding satellite towns as the next frontier for investment and economic growth in the Federal Capital Territory.
Earlier, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL), Ambassador Maureen Tamuno, said the Expo was designed to attract strategic investments, promote public-private partnerships and showcase Abuja’s vast economic potential.
She said this year’s theme, “Building Nigeria’s Capital: Investment as a Catalyst for Economic Growth,” reflects the administration’s determination to leverage private-sector participation to accelerate infrastructure development and economic transformation.
Tamuno praised Wike’s leadership, noting that the administration’s aggressive urban renewal and infrastructure development initiatives had significantly enhanced Abuja’s attractiveness to investors.
She added that participants at the three-day event would engage in investment forums, exhibitions, networking sessions and policy dialogues covering key sectors, including infrastructure, technology, renewable energy, real estate, sports, solid minerals and the creative industry.
According to her, the Expo is expected to attract fresh investments, strengthen strategic partnerships and reinforce Abuja’s position as one of Africa’s emerging business and investment capitals.