Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to participate in the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum (2025 APCS), scheduled for this week.

A statement yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, confirmed the minister’s arrival at about 4 a.m. (local time).

The event is one of the most diverse gatherings of mayors, city leaders, business executives and young professionals worldwide.  Open to all regions and continents, and an initiative of Brisbane City Council, the programme is expected to deliver long-term value for cities and businesses seeking trade and investment opportunities in the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and beyond.

According to the statement, Wike, who departed Abuja on Sunday night, was received on arrival by Nigeria’s Consul General in Dubai, Ambassador Zayyanu Ibrahim, alongside senior officials of the FCTA, who had earlier arrived in the Emirate.

According to the spokesman, Wike is billed to lead a discussion panel on Tuesday (today) morning, where he will field questions on the FCT and exchange ideas with mayors of other global capital cities.

Organisers of the 2025 APCS noted that the summit aims to foster long-term value creation for cities and businesses pursuing trade and investment opportunities across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and South Asia regions.

In his two-year sojourn as the FCT Minister, Wike has been seeking collaboration in terms of local and international investments to boost Abuja’s economy.

Just last week, the former Rivers State governor called on both local and international investors to take advantage of the vast economic opportunities within the nation’s capital to drive sustainable growth, create jobs, and foster inclusive development. His appeal came at the opening of the second Abuja Business and Investment Expo (ABIEXPO 2025) in the federal capital.

The event was organised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its investment arm, the Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL).

Represented by the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, the ex-governor reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transforming Abuja into not only Nigeria’s political capital, but also a model for sustainable economic growth in Africa.

“As Abuja symbolises Nigeria’s aspirations, our mission —supported by President Bola Tinubu — is to make it a safe, investment-friendly entity that empowers all citizens,” Wike said.

He noted that the theme of the summit, “Empowering Sustainable Growth: Unlocking Potentials in Emerging Markets,” aligns with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises inclusive development, infrastructure expansion, and job creation.

According to the minister, the FCTA is prioritising infrastructure projects linking satellite towns, area councils, and rural communities to the city centre, describing such initiatives as crucial to industrialisation and economic diversification.

Delivering the keynote address, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, urged African investors to channel more resources into local investments, stressing that the continent’s economic destiny must be determined by Africans themselves.