The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for turning Abuja’s City Gate into a modern recreational and environmental centre.
She also urged state governments across the country to involve more young people in protecting the environment. She spoke during a ceremony where the Federal Capital Territory Administration was recognised for its work under the Renewed Hope Green Initiative.
Mrs Tinubu said the transformation of the City Gate was one of the best environmental improvements she had seen in recent times. She explained that the project had changed the appearance of the area and made it more attractive to residents and visitors. She also revealed that although a ₦50 million prize was made available through the Green Challenge to encourage states to reclaim abandoned spaces and illegal dumpsites, no state participated in the exercise.
The First Lady encouraged governments at all levels to pay greater attention to environmental protection by creating opportunities for young people to take part in activities that improve and preserve public spaces. She recalled being involved in environmental campaigns as a student through the Youth Environmental Programme for West Africa, an experience that took her to several countries in the region and strengthened her interest in environmental issues.
Responding at the event, Wike said the idea to remodel the City Gate came after the First Lady repeatedly urged him to improve the appearance of Abuja. According to him, she questioned why Nigeria could not apply ideas seen in other countries to make its capital city more attractive. He said her advice encouraged the FCT Administration to begin work on the project.
The minister explained that after receiving the suggestion, the administration engaged the original designers of the City Gate to prepare a fresh design. He said the completed project has now become a popular destination where people gather during the day and at night for relaxation and recreation.
Wike disclosed that the administration intends to extend similar projects to other parts of Abuja. He said work is already being planned to redesign the green area at Life Camp into another modern recreation centre where residents can relax, exercise and enjoy a cleaner environment.
He added that maintaining green spaces is necessary for the growth of any city, noting that clean surroundings and well-planned recreational areas improve the quality of life and make urban centres more attractive.
He also thanked the First Lady for recognising the efforts of the FCT Administration, saying her encouragement has inspired the government to continue improving public spaces across the nation’s capital.