By Remi Johnson
The iconic remodelled Abuja City Gate has been officially commissioned in Abuja, with a unique water fountain adding beauty to the city’s aesthetics and ambience.
During the ceremony, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu explained that the remodelled national monument can now proudly stand alongside the gateways and public monuments of other notable capital cities around the world.
The President, who was represented at the ceremony by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, described the transformed City Gate as a fitting symbol of Nigeria’s unity, diversity and shared aspirations.
She said Nigeria’s diplomatic and administrative capital, where all 36 states converge, deserves a gateway that reflects the country’s pride, character and aspirations.
She said the project, executed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), gives every visitor arriving in Abuja a positive first impression of the nation’s capital.
“This newly remodelled Abuja City Gate, with its beautiful water fountain representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, tells every visitor and Nigerians arriving from the airport that they have entered a city built on unity, diversity and shared aspirations,” she said.
She commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, for his dedication to transforming the aesthetics and ambience of Abuja.
She described the commissioning as particularly significant because it coincides with the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration and the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Federal Capital Territory.
“When you share a vision with a man of action, you see results. Minister Wike, you have proven once again to be a true driver of the Renewed Hope Agenda. I say well done,” she stated.
Also speaking, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike disclosed that the project was conceived following a directive from the First Lady, who challenged him after observing that Abuja’s gateway did not reflect the status of Nigeria’s capital city.
Wike recounted that, after repeated reminders from Senator Tinubu, he directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to develop a befitting redesign and engaged Julius Berger to execute the project.
“We must always tell ourselves the truth. This has been here for years, but nobody imagined it could be transformed into what you see today. When the First Lady insisted that Abuja deserved a gateway befitting a nation’s capital, we took up the challenge,” Wike said.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the outcome, describing the remodelled monument and its water fountain as a world-class landmark that would inspire pride among Nigerians and visitors alike.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as a powerful symbol of the Renewed Hope transformation taking place across the Federal Capital Territory.
She praised Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her compassionate leadership and steadfast support for programmes that improve citizens’ wellbeing, noting that her presence added dignity and national significance to the occasion.
According to her, the remodelled City Gate stands as a visible expression of urban renewal, infrastructural transformation and national pride in the Federal Capital Territory.