The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the administration is seeking partnerships with Qatar and Germany to accelerate infrastructure development and transform Abuja into a world-class city.
Wike disclosed this while receiving the ambassadors of the two countries separately at his official residence in Abuja on Tuesday.
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During his meeting with Qatar’s Ambassador, Yousef Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hail, the minister expressed the FCT Administration’s readiness to adopt Qatar’s urban planning models and modern infrastructure concepts to enhance Abuja’s development.
He cited Qatar’s transformation into a global investment and infrastructure hub, including its successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup, as an example Nigeria could learn from.
Wike proposed establishing a development model similar to Doha in Abuja, saying the administration would arrange an official visit to Qatar to study its urban planning and identify practices that could be replicated in the nation’s capital.
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He also assured the Qatari government of support in carrying out its diplomatic responsibilities and developing its allocated property in Abuja, dismissing concerns over a purported court order that could affect the project.
Receiving Germany’s Ambassador, Stefan Rossel, Wike highlighted the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Germany, expressing the FCT Administration’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The minister said the administration was working to improve infrastructure and security in Abuja, with a ten-year vision of making the city competitive with leading German cities.
He proposed partnerships with German cities in modern agriculture, information and communications technology, and skills acquisition and capacity building to support Abuja’s development.
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Wike also defended the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including fuel subsidy removal, describing them as difficult but necessary decisions for long-term national prosperity.
The two ambassadors commended the transformation of Abuja and improvements in security, expressing their countries’ willingness to deepen cooperation with Nigeria through knowledge sharing, infrastructure development and smart-city initiatives.