A presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023, Moses Ayom, and other prominent private sector investors have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for their renewed commitment to the actualisation of the Abuja Smart City Vision, describing it as a transformative agenda that will redefine Nigeria’s capital city.
Addressing global city leaders and urban planners at the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Wike disclosed that the FCT Administration is driving the Smart City Vision across five key areas: urban mobility, sustainability, public safety, digital governance, and economic empowerment.
According to the minister, Abuja has intensified collaboration with international development partners and private investors to fast-track innovation. He highlighted ongoing joint projects such as the Smart Water Metering initiative with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), deployment of intelligent traffic light systems supported by Chinese partners, and landmark ventures including the Abuja City Walk and Abuja Industrial Park.
Ayom, Chief Executive Officer of the Hongye Group, told journalists in Abuja that the administration’s bold urbanisation plan, being implemented through the FCT minister, represents a major catalyst for the socio-economic renewal of Abuja.
He noted that the Tinubu-led government’s resolve to turn Abuja into a modern, inclusive, and technology-driven city would not only boost infrastructure but also attract global investment, ease housing pressure, and spur the country’s climate targets.
“The commitment being shown by President Tinubu and Minister Wike gives me renewed hope that our dream of building Africa’s largest Green Smart City in Ketti will soon be a reality,” he said.
Ayom said, “With the opening of new districts and renewed infrastructural expansion, issues of traffic congestion, housing deficit, and environmental decay will soon be a thing of the past.”
A member of the 2016 Presidential Trade Mission to China alongside industrialist Aliko Dangote, Ayom described the Ketti Smart City project as a model for sustainable development in Africa.
According to him, the district will integrate smart technology, renewable energy, and green infrastructure, with digital governance systems that enhance public safety, efficiency, and citizen engagement.
“When completed, Ketti will rival global smart cities like Dubai, Shenzhen, and Milton Keynes,” he stated, adding that “It will create jobs, attract technology-driven enterprises, and drastically reduce housing costs through innovative public-private partnerships.”
Wike informed the summit of ongoing initiatives with Japan’s JICA on Smart Water Metering, with Chinese investors on Intelligent Traffic Light Systems, and on the development of major projects like the Abuja City Walk and Abuja Industrial Park.
“These partnerships demonstrate our resolve to build a modern city that leverages technology and collaboration to improve quality of life,” Wike said.
The Asia Pacific Cities Summit, an initiative of the Brisbane City Council, is one of the world’s most diverse gatherings of city leaders, entrepreneurs, and young professionals, providing a platform for cross-continental trade and investment partnerships.
The district, located along the Airport Road corridor, will also host a PGA-standard golf course, global hotel brands, and mixed-use housing for low- and medium-income residents.
Ayom emphasised that the notable public-private partnership driving the advancement of smart cities around Abuja has been strengthened by Haitong’s strategic alliance with the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and the Abuja Investment Company Limited to substantially reduce the housing shortfall, which is estimated to exceed 20 million.
Beyond infrastructure, the project aims to foster economic empowerment, promote sustainable living, and position Abuja as a benchmark for smart urbanisation across Africa.
Ayom reaffirmed his confidence that the synergy between the Tinubu administration, the FCT Minister, and the private sector would deliver a world-class capital city reflective of Nigeria’s potential.
“With what is happening in Abuja today, we are on course to redefine African urban living—smart, green, and inclusive,” he said.
Earlier this year, Wike launched a major infrastructure push across Abuja’s satellite towns, including Ketti and Takushara, to bridge the gap between the city centre and its rural communities.
During an inspection of ongoing works on the 10.5km Kabusa–Ketti Road and 9.8km Kabusa–Takushara Road, Wike said the projects were in line with President Tinubu’s directive on inclusive development.
“Mr President has always emphasised that we should not only concentrate development in the city but extend it to satellite towns,” Wike said, noting that the roads would be completed and inaugurated in May 2026.
Other investors in the Abuja Smart City Vision, including Havel Corporate Concept, an affiliate of ioSafe Nigeria, have unveiled projects to boost the initiative.
The Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Dr Ahmed Badanga, unveiled the projects at a media briefing in Abuja, expressing delight at the government’s commitment.
