Leadership (Abuja)
Nuhu Yerwa
13 February 2008
column
Abuja — Like the Biblical Prophet Moses, late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed saw the promised land and conceived a Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria's heartland. He did not live to realise his dreams. On Murtala's 32nd remembrance day today, Nuhu Yarwa looks back to the history of the FCT.
In 1991, it was marked, in the history of Nigeria, the movement of its federal capital territory from the crowded city of Lagos, to Abuja. Lagos abandoned its age-old status as the administrative national capital of Africa's largest black nation in the world. The glory shifted away elsewhere, about 700km hinterland: to a virgin terrain of low population density.
Centrally located within a virgin territory of about 8,000 sq. km; Abuja is home of mini ethnic groups of sociologically "kwa" group of African languages such as Gbagyi, Gade, Koro, Nupe, Bassa, Ganagana, etc. Abuja thereafter, started piloting the dictatorship of African affairs politically, militarily and diplo-economically.
Earlier in 1976, February 3, the embryo whose egg was later hatched to produce Abuja was laid, courtesy of Nigeria's famous military leader, Gen. Murtala Ramat Muhammed.
This means that it took some fifteen years of incubation before the "baby Abuja" was delivered (1976 - 1991), already physiologically strong and psychologically vibrant from the womb.
The military government of General Murtala Muhammed had conceived the idea of moving out the federal seat of government from Lagos to a "secured" central part within the federation.
Sadly, Gen. Murtala Muhammed lost his life just ten days later, on February 13, after proclaiming Abuja as Nigeria's new federal capital, and 15 years was what had been projected to finalise the movement from Lagos through gradual phasing.
General Murtala was assassinated through a coup attempt led by Lt. Col. Bukar Sukar Dimka of the Nigeria Army Corp of Physical Education on that fateful Friday morning of February 13.
Broadcast That Proclaimed Abuja As Nigeria's New Capital City
Characteristic of military national assignments, General Murtala's temperament through careful choice of words in this particular address to the nation, portrayed him in the mood of a General who had just returned from the battle field and willfully and patriotically stood before his colleagues as well as the rank and file within his constituency, ready to address them all, with regard to the horrible images of the moment and the imaginary future.
The epoch-making speech produced eulogy as it also aroused euphoria: eulogy for Lagos whose multiple problems made it being relegated politically; and the euphoria was necessitated by the relief of the sudden news since Lagos had become over pressured and over-utilised territorially.
"Fellow Nigerians", he began, adding, "A joint meeting of the National Council of States has just concluded sitting", he enthused.
And straight away, General Ramat stated: "The meeting has deliberated on reports submitted by the following panels: (a) Assets investigation of some former public officers, (b) The abandoned properties in the three Eastern States which comprised the former Eastern Region, (c) Relocation of the Federal Capital, and (d) Creation of more states".
In the subsequent paragraphs, the pulse of General Murtala's psyche was obvious, vibrant and visible. He had punctuated his national address with emphasis on "the joint meeting was guided solely by national interest and the consideration for JUSTICE, PEACE and STABILITY".
The 7-Member Abuja Panel: A Body Of Eminent Nigerians
The seven-man panel was headed by a legal luminary, Dr. Akinola Aguda. He had served-on Nigeria's sponsorship but based on diplomatic transnational request from Botswana - as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Botswana in the Southern African sub-continent.
Other members included the well respected educationist and unrepentant social critic, Late Dr. Tai Solarin. There was Prof. O.K. Ogan, Col. Monsignor Pedro Martins, Chief Owen Feibai, Prof. Ajato Gandonu and Alhaji Mohammed Musa Isma. Chief E. Nsikek served as the secretary.
The Terms; The Guide And Nationalism
The committee was solely mandated with powers to examine the dual role of Lagos which concurrently served as a state capital (Lagos State) and as a national seat (federal capital).
It was also empowered to recommend, if necessary and desirable - which of the two governments should vacate Lagos city for a new location. And in case the committee found it necessarily expedient and politically desirable that it must be the federal seat which would move away, it ought to recommend "suitable alternative", bearing in mind easy accessibility to, and from, all parts of the federation.
Finally, the panel was granted up to December 31 1975, to submit its recommendation "to the Federal Military Government (FMG)".
Set to please the nation from political suicide of having its national headquarters at the edge of an international sea, the Atlantic Ocean; conscious of poor topography of Lagos terrain - which did not allow for expansion; guided by the fear that historically Lagos belongs to Yoruba race which is one of the three most giant tribes in the country, and so proper integration of other multiple tribes nationwide might be hampered; and finally, propelled by the tempo to locate federal territory in the heart of the nation central to all parts of the country, inhabited by little known friendly minority-tribes serving as symbol of national unity, the panel had no alternative than to recommend a large virgin land sandwiched between Niger State, Old Kwara and Old Plateau States. A - b - u - j - a became its official name thereafter.
Niger State had territorially produced about 65 per cent of the land, while old Kwara (now Kogi State) and old Plateau (Now Nasarawa State) produced about 25 and 15 per cent respectively.
Abuja Vs The Check - List
Determined to be fair to itself and the nation, the panel for the relocation of federal capital, ever before setting out its feet for both intensive internal and external tours, tactically spelt out for itself some guide, some sort of workable "check list" serving as preamble detailing needed criteria with assigned "score sheet" before any location was to be deemed fit as the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria.
In all, the committee was looking out for 13 essentials, and each criterion had a mark fixed to it - some form of score chart, bringing the total to 100 per cent.
"Centrality" to all parts of Nigeria was foremost, with 22 per cent rating. "Healthy climate" outside oceanic heat or sun bites had 12 per cent while "land availability" for purpose of industrial, commercial and residential developments as well as "access to good water" at high capacity supply were allotted 10 per cent each.
"Multi-access possibilities" by land (rail/road), air (plane), and water (voyage), had 7 per cent allocation; and "security" of persons and properties received 6 per cent, whereas "local sourcing of building materials" to allow for quality and quantity expansion schemes had 6 per cent. Of course, "local population" explosion checks was another great factor which had a 6 per cent concern.
The rest included "easy access to power resources" by way of hydro, thermal and solar energy; "drainage consideration" to fight ecological affronts, and "soil facilities" through a study of the textures and utility. These were earmarked 5,5 and 4 per cent respectively.
The 12th and 13th factors placed for vital consideration "physical planning convenience" (4 per cent) and "ethnic accord" by way of mix, concord, mutuality, brotherhood or comradeship which signifies unity of purpose (3 per cent). This brings the grand total to 100per cent.
Consequently, the committee, after several search of documents, intensive local tours through different transportation modes (road, rail and air) and guided foreign trips to selected countries which once in its life-span had to relocate its national capital like Brazil, unanimously recommend Abuja, a virgin land, deeply encircled by Gbagyi-founded Abuja monarchical royalty in Niger State. It is now called Suleja Emirate.
General Murtala Muhammad fully accepted Justice Akinola Aguda's recommendations, and 48 hours thereafter, made the historic national broadcast of February 3, 1976, promulgating Decree No. 6 which established the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). FCDA was mandated under a sole administrator to initiate plans, designs, facilities and integrate all lands with a view to serving multiple purposes for Nigerians of various grades and aspirations based on adequate land planning schemes.
Straight away, the Decree vested the overall ownership, control and adjudication of all lands (valleys, hills, plains) in the territory under the federal government, represented, ipso-facto, by the FCT administration.
In all, from the hours of 00.00 of December 12, 1991, Abuja became practically Nigeria's new federal capital after a great journey of some 15 years (1976 - 1991).
Abuja Vs A Dozen Other Contestants
From the memoranda tendered before Justice Akinola Aguda by concerned Nigerians at home and abroad, about two dozens of different locations across the Nigerian landscape were said to have been suggested. Suffice to mention Kafanchan, Minna, Makurdi, Agege, Lafiya, Auchi, Abaji, Jos, Baro, Aganebode, Ife and Oken - Aladja area etc. But Abuja won the competition, took the glory and wore the crown. And the whole African continent submitted. Hence, each pays homage almost on a daily basis to this foremost first city of Africans.
Excerpts Of The Broadcast Proclaiming Abuja As Nigeria's FCT
"Fellow Nigerians,
A joint meeting of the National Council of States has just concluded sitting. The meeting has deliberated on reports submitted by the following panels.
(a) Assets investigation of some former public officers;
(b) Abandoned properties in the three Eastern States which comprised the former Eastern Region;
(c) Relocation of the federal capital; and
(d) Creation of more states.
These panels, as you will no doubt recall, were set up by this administration at its inception. They were all given adequate terms of reference and sufficient time in which to deliberate and submit their reports and recommendations to the FMG.
I will like to seize this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for the excellent work they have done. They deserve the nation's gratitude.
In the deliberation on these reports, I will like to emphasise that the joint meeting was guided solely by national interest and consideration for justice, peace and stability.
The Panel On The Location Of Federal Capital:
The panel on the location of the federal capital has recommended that the nation's capital should move out of Lagos to a federal territory of about 8,000 square kilometers in the central part of the country.
The Supreme Military Council has accepted this recommendation. The site recommended satisfied the panel's criteria of centrality, good and tolerable climate, land availability and use, adequate water supply, low population density, physical planning convenience, security and multi-access possibility. The area is not within the control of any major ethnic groups in the country. We believe that the new capital created on such virgin land as suggested will be for all Nigerians a symbol of their oneness and unity. The federal territory will belong to all Nigerians.
The few local inhabitants in the area who need to be moved out of the territory for planning purposes will be resettled outside the area in places of their choice at government expense.
In order to avoid land speculation in the area, a decree is being promulgated immediately to vest all land in the federal territory in the federal government. A Federal Capital Development Authority is to be established to plan and administer the territory. An administrator for the federal territory will soon be appointed to provide municipal services in the area.
The chairman of the Federal Capital Development Authority of nine members will be of cabinet rank. The authority is expected to start work at once but the movement of the seat of the federal government out of Lagos is expected to take some ten to fifteen years. The present administration is firmly committed to ensuring that the necessary ground work is completed and construction work started within the next four years.
Lagos will, in the foreseeable future, remain the nation's commercial capital and one of its nerve centers. But in terms of servicing the present infrastructure alone, the committed amount of money and effort required will be such that Lagos State will not be ready to cope. It will even be unfair to expect the state to bear this heavy burden on its own. It is, therefore, necessary for the federal government to continue to sustain the substantial investment in the area. The port facilities and other economic activities in the Lagos area have to be expanded. There is need in the circumstance for the federal government to maintain a special defence and security arrangement in Lagos which will henceforth be designated a SPECIAL AREA. These arrangements will be carefully worked out and written into the constitution. Kaduna and Port-Harcourt are to be accorded similar status and designated special areas under the constitution".
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