The first Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (Lagos) was Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun while the incumbent FCT Minister is Nyeson Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State.
FCT Minister from 1976 to date
Here is the full list of past and incumbent ministers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 1976 to date.
- Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun: 1976 to 1979
- John Jatau Kadiya: 1979 to 1982
- Iro Abubakar Dan Musa: 1982 to 1983
- Haliru Dantoro: 1983 to December 1983
- Mamman Jiya Vatsa: 1984 to December 1985
- Hamza Abdullahi: 1986 to 1989
- Gado Nasko: 1989 to December 11, 1991
- Gado Nasko: 1991 to 1993
- Jeremiah Timbut Useni: 1993 to 1998
- Mamman Kontagora: 1998 to 1999
- Ibrahim Bunu: 1999 to 2001
- Mohammed Abba Gana: February 8, 2001 to July 17, 2003
- Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai: July 17, 2003 to July 27, 2007
- Aliyu Modibbo Umar: July 27, 2007 to October 29, 2008
- Muhammadu Adamu Aliero: December 17, 2008 to April 8, 2010
- Bala Mohammed: April 8, 2010 to May 29, 2015
- Mohammed Musa Bello: November 17, 2015, May 29, 2023
- Nyeson Wike: August 16, 2023 to date
Who moved FCT from Lagos to Abuja?
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja on December 12, 1991, by the military president Gen. Ibrahim Babandiga.
Since the official creation of a “ministry” dedicated to the management and administration of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), political appointees were appointed by the ruling government for the proper management of the FCT.
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial city was Nigeria’s FCT until the idea that Abuja was the centre came up in the late 1970s by the military regime of Gen Murtala Muhammed. Since then, the development of Abuja began.
While the regime of Gen Olusegun Obasanjo continued with some of the policies of his late boss and began the development of Abuja, Shehu Shagari, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, allocated several millions of Naira (as at then) towards the development of the new FCT, which would later be known as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), it was Gen. Ibrahim Babandiga that took the bold move to move FCT from Lagos to Abuja in 1991.
Lagos as FCT of Nigeria
Lagos as the FCT had seven FCT Ministers, beginning from Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun – 1976 to 1979 – to Gado Nasko from 1989 to December 11, 1991.
Who is the first FCT Minister in Abuja?
Gen. Babangida retained Gado Nasko as the FCT minister, making him the first FCT Minister when the capital territory was moved to Abuja from 1991 to 1993.
Why was FCT moved from Lagos to Abuja?
Abuja was chosen as Nigeria’s new capital because it is the centre of Nigeria and it is easy to access from other parts of the country.
A panel headed by Justice Akintola Aguda also pointed out that Abuja has a low population density compared to Lagos and the availability of land for future expansion.
Who started the move to change FCT to Abuja?
The Federal Military Government of Nigeria of Gen Murtala Muhammed began the move to change the FCT from Lagos to Abuja through decree No. 6 of February 4, 1976.
Murtala’s success Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo began the implementation of the process following the killing of his boss in the February 13, 1976 coup.
Takeaways:
- Out of the aforementioned ministers, it was only Lieutenant General Muhammad Gado Nasko, a former military governor of Sokoto State, who “ruled” as the minister of FCT in Lagos and as the FCT minister when it was moved to Abuja.
- Gado Nasko undertook many projects in Abuja before the official relocation.
- Mohammed Musa Bello was succeeded as the FCT Minister by the former Governor of Rivers, Nyeson Wike.
- FCT Minister in Nigeria is like a state governor