We could recall that on his entry to the reception hall of the then Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel, now known as the Transcorp Hilton, the revolutionary Burkina Faso leader, Late Captain Thomas Sankara, made the exclamation "Who said Nigeria is not rich?" This was in the mid eighties.

I could also recall that much later in the early nineties, while as a young Planning Officer my schedule then was to conduct visitors round the city and explaining to them its history and how it was planned.

In one particular episode while conducting some international delegates of the Rotary Club, and in the Abuja International Conference Center (ICC), one of the visitors whom I presume a German asked me a rhetorical question whether Nigeria really got the money to build that edifice.

My reply was prompt as I only added, "yes, and within a record period of six month". Because the Babangida administration actually utilized the wind fall of the first gulf war to commence and complete the development of the ICC extension only six months prior to the Nigerian hosting of the OAU summit in 1992.

Our international Rotary Club visitor's host in Nigeria whose name I could also not remember, but did remember was a retired General, then politely pulled me from behind and told me in our local vernacular that the man was really astonished because even in his country as developed as it is, this edifice is magnificent. I could not confirm his statement nor deny it because I was never there. All what came to my mind was that the aim of the city's founding fathers of building a city that shall be a pride of the nation the symbol of Nigeria's aspiration for unity and greatness, really made a resounding achievement also in a record period of approximately a decade after the commencement of physical construction activities of the city.

It is not only the cost or the seemingly huge amount of resources expended in making these edifices and a host of others spread around the city that makes them splendid, but also their locations, site selection and focal points which further contributes to the enhancing of their scenic beauties.

Nothing stops us from having these or more outstanding structures elsewhere say in Lagos , Port Harcourt , Kaduna or any other part of the country, but are sure not to have the benefits of choices in their locations from the initial stages of the individual cities development as was made possible in Abuja .

The city is located on what is known as the Gwagwa plains among three major plains considered for its location while selecting the actual site to build the city within the territory carved for the Federal Capital.

One of the reasons considered by the IPA for the selection of the plains located at the north-eastern quadrant among the three alternatives is its exciting visual potentials. It's gently rolling terrain penetrated by occasional rounded knolls and outcroppings presents minimum constrains, but offers variety of features which can be exploited to advantage in the master planning and urban design process.

Viewing the imposing figure of the Hilton Hotel from the Ministries Zone along the Shehu Shagari Way, or the immediate appearance of the ICC at the end of the Moshood Abiola Street in the Garki I district, or the imposing Ecowas Secretariat along the Yakubu Gowon Crescent in the Asokoro district, or even the Sheraton Hotel and Towers as viewed from atop the interchanges at the Central Area district, one can go on and on, should confirm the advantages presented by the undulating Gwagwa Plains, as the magnificent features are made focal points relative to their surrounding environments.

The undulating views of the arterial roads and parkways with their grade separated interchanges while viewing them from a distance further accentuate the scenic qualities in this selected plain. Thus what was envisaged by the plan and actualized as proposed are better appreciated by considering all these scenic beauties.

The other characteristics which clearly makes the Gwagwa Plains the most desirable location for the Federal Capital City is its size, enough to accommodate a projected city population of 1.6 million in a variety of possible urban forms. It also has the capacity to handle population growth up to the limit of approximately 3.0 million. Also of the alternative locations the selected site has the most comfortable climate.

Lying above elevation 1,200 feet, the Gwagwa Plains have fewer days of rainfall, generally lower humidity, and temperatures more moderate than other sections of the FCT. It also offers satisfactory geological and soil conditions with good subsurface conditions for construction and landscaping.

The predominant vegetation type is park savanna, which produces a pleasant open but partially shaded environment. Areas remaining where actual city building does not take place will retain an environment not requiring extensive re-planning.

Although analysts of the territory also disclosed a number of smaller, relatively isolated areas where urbanization could be accommodated, they are not of sufficient size that a city of the anticipated size of the capital city could be built.

We please crave the indulgence of the followers of our Institutional Conflict topic to expect the concluding part next week.