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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, has declared Abuja open to credible local and international investors, while warning that the administration will not tolerate land fraud, speculative acquisitions or illegal developments that threaten the city’s master plan.
Speaking at the opening of the Abuja Business and Investment Expo (ABIE) 3.0 in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was intensifying reforms aimed at creating a transparent, predictable and investor-friendly business environment anchored on infrastructure development and institutional accountability.
Represented by the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, Wike said the ongoing transformation of the nation’s capital under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda had positioned Abuja for sustained economic growth through increased private sector participation.
He described infrastructure as the foundation of economic development, noting that the FCTA had embarked on extensive investments in road construction, urban renewal, water supply, transportation, healthcare and education to make Abuja one of Africa’s leading investment destinations.
According to the minister, the administration has shifted from making promises to delivering measurable outcomes by completing abandoned projects, opening new development corridors and extending critical infrastructure to satellite towns and Area Councils.
Wike also pointed to the FCT’s performance in the 2025 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Subnational Ease of Doing Business assessment, where the territory ranked fourth nationwide with a 61 per cent score, as evidence of ongoing efforts to improve governance and simplify investment procedures.
Despite the progress, he said the administration remained determined to position Abuja as Nigeria’s foremost investment destination and one of the continent’s most competitive business hubs.
The minister said reforms in land administration, digital governance, revenue collection and public sector accountability were designed to eliminate bureaucratic delays, strengthen transparency and provide investors with greater certainty.
He warned, however, that while genuine investors would continue to receive government support, those involved in fraudulent land allocations, multiple ownership claims and illegal developments would face decisive action.
“Ease of doing business does not mean the absence of regulation. We will support and protect genuine investors, but we will not protect land speculators, fraudulent developers or businesses that disregard the law,” he said.
Highlighting investment opportunities across the Federal Capital Territory, Wike identified real estate, transportation, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, education, renewable energy, technology, creative industries, waste management and urban infrastructure as priority sectors for public-private partnerships.
He encouraged investors to explore opportunities in rapidly developing satellite towns and emerging districts, noting that Abuja’s next phase of economic expansion would extend beyond the city centre.
The minister assured investors that the FCTA would continue to provide world-class infrastructure, policy consistency and an enabling business environment, while expecting the private sector to deliver quality investments that generate employment and stimulate economic growth.
He expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between government and private investors would accelerate Abuja’s emergence as a globally competitive capital city and a leading hub for investment, innovation and enterprise.
Earlier, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL), Ambassador Maureen Tamuno, described the Abuja Business and Investment Expo 3.0 as a strategic platform for attracting investments and fostering partnerships capable of unlocking the economic potential of the Federal Capital Territory.
She said the theme of this year’s event, “Building Nigeria’s Capital: Investment as a Catalyst for Economic Growth,” aligns with the FCTA’s vision of positioning Abuja as a globally competitive investment destination through infrastructure development, innovation and private sector collaboration.
Tamuno commended Wike’s leadership for driving infrastructure and urban renewal projects that have enhanced investor confidence in the nation’s capital.
She added that the three-day expo would feature investment forums, exhibitions, networking sessions and policy dialogues covering sectors including real estate, infrastructure, technology, renewable energy, solid minerals, sports and the creative economy.
The AICL chief urged investors, development partners and the wider business community to leverage the opportunities available in the FCT, expressing optimism that the expo would facilitate strategic partnerships capable of accelerating economic growth in Abuja and across Nigeria.
