First Lady Commends Wike Over Abuja’s Green Transformation

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for transforming Abuja’s City Gate into a modern recreational and environmental landmark, while urging state governments to involve more young people in environmental protection programmes.

Speaking during a ceremony to honour the FCT Administration under the Renewed Hope Green Initiative, the First Lady described the transformation of the City Gate as impressive and commended Wike for improving the appearance of the nation’s capital.

She disclosed that although a ₦50 million prize had been set aside under the Green Challenge to encourage states to restore abandoned public spaces and dumpsites, no state participated in the competition.

Mrs. Tinubu also recalled her involvement in environmental activities as a student. She said she belonged to the Youth Environmental Programme for West Africa while studying at the College of Education, a programme that took her on road trips across several West African countries.

She encouraged state governments to engage young people in environmental projects, saying such programmes would help build awareness and promote a cleaner environment.

Responding, Wike revealed that the First Lady inspired the redevelopment of Abuja’s City Gate after urging him to improve the city’s appearance based on standards seen in other countries.

According to the minister, Mrs. Tinubu questioned why Nigeria could not improve the appearance of its capital after officials returned from international trips with fresh ideas and experiences.

He said she later followed up on the matter after noticing that work had not started, prompting the FCT Administration to move ahead with the project.

Wike explained that the administration engaged the original designers of the City Gate to produce a new design, which has transformed the location into a popular public attraction visited by residents during the day and at night.

The minister also disclosed that similar projects would soon be carried out in other parts of Abuja, including the Life Camp area, where plans are underway to redevelop an existing green space into a modern recreation centre.

He said clean surroundings and well-maintained green spaces remain essential to the growth of any city, adding that attractive public spaces improve the quality of life for residents.

Wike thanked the First Lady for recognising the FCT Administration’s efforts, noting that her encouragement had inspired the government to continue improving Abuja’s environment and public recreational facilities.