First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for transforming Abuja’s City Gate into a major recreational and environmental landmark, while calling on states to involve more young people in environmental protection initiatives.
Speaking during a ceremony to honour the FCT Administration for its environmental efforts under the Renewed Hope Green Initiative, Mrs Tinubu said she was impressed by the transformation of the City Gate, describing it as “unbelievable”.
She disclosed that despite a ₦50 million prize set aside under the Green Challenge to encourage states to reclaim abandoned spaces and dumpsites, no state entered the competition.
Commending Wike’s efforts, she said: “When I saw what he did with the City Gate, my God, unbelievable, unbelievable. I want to thank him. He’s done very well.”
Recalling her own experience as a student environmental activist, she said she belonged to the Youth Environmental Programme for West Africa while at the College of Education and travelled across several West African countries.
“I remember when I was in the College of Education, I was a member of the Youth Environmental Programme for West Africa. We travelled from Nigeria throughout West Africa by road. It was a memorable experience for us,” she said.
Responding, Wike revealed that the First Lady personally inspired the transformation of Abuja’s City Gate after repeatedly urging him to improve the aesthetics of the nation’s capital.
“The First Lady had to commend the FCT for keying into the Renewed Hope Green Initiative because she has always said we have to change our environment and create opportunities where people can gather and relax,” he said.
According to the minister, the idea originated from one of Mrs Tinubu’s observations after returning from foreign trips.
“She called on me to say, ‘Why do we travel out and we do not learn anything when we travel? Look at the way our city looks, look at the way city gates in other countries look. Why not do something to change it?’”
Wike said the First Lady followed up the conversation two months later after noticing that no work had commenced.
“She called back and said, ‘I have passed there several times and it doesn’t appear that anything has changed.’ I told her something would be done.”
He explained that the FCT Administration subsequently engaged the original designers of the City Gate to develop a new concept that has since transformed the location into a vibrant public attraction.
“Today, by the grace of God, whenever you pass there, even at night, you see people gathered there. There is activity. That is what it is supposed to be,” he said.
The minister disclosed that similar projects would be extended to other parts of Abuja, particularly the Life Camp area, where plans are under way to develop another green recreational centre.
“I’ve also told the First Lady that I want to replicate another one when you go to the Life Camp area. We have a green space where people come to relax, but it doesn’t look tidy or attractive. I’ve directed that it should be redesigned into another recreation centre where people can come and relax. That is what happens in other countries,” he said.
Wike described environmental sustainability as essential to national development, noting that no city could truly develop without clean and well-maintained green spaces.
“Nobody can talk about the development of any country or city where the environment is not clean. When you go to Europe, what attracts you is the beauty, the green environment and the clean surroundings. When you put green areas around developments, it looks natural. That is the way we are supposed to live.”
He also expressed appreciation to the First Lady for recognising the FCT Administration’s efforts.
