ABUJA — The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, says “the FCT Administration would sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Julius Berger for the maintenance of the remodelled Abuja City Gate.” Mr Wike stated this “during the inauguration of the edifice in Abuja on Thursday, by President Bola Tinubu, represented by the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.” According to the minister, “the move is to sustain the elegance of the iconic monument that serves as the country’s symbol of unity.”
He noted that “the monument had been neglected for years until First Lady drew his attention to it and asked him to do something about it.” She said, “Minister, have you not been traveling? If you have been traveling, which I know you have been traveling, is this how other city gates look like? You can beautify this place so that anybody coming to Abuja will say, yes, indeed, I am entering the capital city of a country and I said ‘no problem ma, we will do it’. Three months later, you called me again ‘Mr Minister, is it that you didn’t hear what I said, or if you don’t want to do it, I will go by myself and do it’ and I said, ‘ah, this is a serious matter,’” he said.
He said that “the remodelled city gate had changed the landscape of the area, and commended the First Lady for the concern to give the monument a face lift.” Wike said that “the remodelled monument could now be compared with others across the world.” “The concern, however, is after inaugurating it today, what next? We are signing an MoU with Julius Berger to see that they take over the maintenance of this place so that we don’t have anything to regret. Just like Julius Berger has said, just on the other side is where you have the car parks. There’s also a provision for maybe a restaurant and toilet facilities. People can do their marriages, other entertainment activities here, take pictures and say, ‘I am overseas.’ The overseas are here in Nigeria,” he said.
On her part, FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described “the remodelled city gate as a ‘powerful symbol’ of the renewed hope transformation taking place in the nation’s capital.” Mahmoud further said that “the iconic landmark stood as a visible expression of a new era of infrastructural renewal, urban rebirth and national pride in the FCT.”
Earlier, Mr Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, described “the city gate as the city’s most iconic landmark, recognisable within and outside the shores of Nigeria.” “It stands tall and majestic, beckoning residents and visitors alike to experience the warm embrace of the city’s hospitality, often seen in movies and documentaries as Nigerians identify with their capital city,” he said.
Dauda explained that “the monument was built specifically to commemorate the movement of the Federal Government from Lagos to Abuja in 1991.” He added that “it was designed as a ceremonial pavilion and welcoming monument, representing unity and hospitality.” “Precisely, on Dec. 12, 1991, the three arms of government—the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary gathered here and were received with military parades and cultural performances, marking the official transition from Lagos to Abuja. In the years that followed, notable personalities, including several Heads of State, have been received at the city gate, including giving the key to Abuja,” he said.
He, however, noted that “over the years, the monument was neglected, following plans to relocate it to a geographically more accurate location along the Airport Expressway, just by the interchange at the junction of Kuje Road (FCT 105).” The executive secretary said that “the gate gradually became a shadow of its former elegance, adding that the landscape elements were left unattended, and the Nigerian coat of arms had faded.” He added that “the external finishing of the monument had also succumbed to adverse weather conditions.” He said that “the contract for the remodelling of the city gate was awarded in November 2025 to restore it to a standard befitting of a modern and evolving city.”