Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has declared Abuja fully open for business, assuring local and foreign investors of a secure and transparent investment climate while vowing a ruthless crackdown on land fraud, speculative allocations and illegal developments threatening the Abuja Master Plan.
The minister said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was implementing sweeping reforms aimed at transforming Abuja into Nigeria’s leading investment destination and one of Africa’s most competitive business hubs.
Speaking at the opening of the **Abuja Business and Investment Expo (ABIE) 3.0** in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike, represented by the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, said the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda had accelerated infrastructure development and improved the ease of doing business in the nation’s capital.
He said the administration had shifted from policy promises to tangible projects, citing the completion of abandoned infrastructure, expansion of road networks, improved water supply, transportation systems, healthcare facilities, schools and the opening of new development corridors across satellite towns and Area Councils.
According to him, these interventions have laid the foundation for sustained private sector-led economic growth.
“Abuja is open for business. We are creating an investment environment built on transparency, policy consistency and modern infrastructure. Genuine investors will find a willing partner in the FCT Administration,” Wike said.
He, however, issued a stern warning to land speculators, fraudulent developers and individuals involved in multiple land allocations, saying the administration would no longer tolerate practices capable of eroding investor confidence.
“Ease of doing business does not mean absence of regulation. We will protect legitimate investors, but we will not shield land speculators, fraudulent developers or anyone who violates the law or undermines the Abuja Master Plan,” he declared.
The minister disclosed that ongoing reforms in land administration, digital governance, revenue collection and institutional accountability were designed to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, improve transparency and provide investors with a predictable business environment.
He noted that Abuja’s fourth-place ranking with a 61 per cent score in the 2025 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Subnational Ease of Doing Business assessment demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving governance and attracting investment.
Despite the achievement, Wike said the FCTA remained determined to make Abuja the country’s top-ranked destination for investment.
He identified real estate, agriculture, transportation, tourism, healthcare, education, renewable energy, technology, waste management, urban infrastructure and the creative economy as priority sectors offering significant investment opportunities.
The minister urged investors to look beyond the city centre and explore emerging districts, satellite towns and Area Councils, which he described as the next frontier of Abuja’s economic expansion.
He assured the private sector of continued government support through infrastructure development and policy stability while urging investors to deliver quality projects capable of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
Earlier, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL), Ambassador Maureen Tamuno, described the Expo as a strategic platform for attracting investments, forging partnerships and showcasing the Federal Capital Territory’s vast economic potential.
She said the theme of this year’s event, **”Building Nigeria’s Capital: Investment as a Catalyst for Economic Growth,”** reflects the administration’s commitment to positioning Abuja as a globally competitive investment destination through innovation, infrastructure and public-private partnerships.
Tamuno commended Wike’s leadership, saying the administration’s aggressive infrastructure renewal programme had significantly improved investor confidence and enhanced the attractiveness of the FCT.
She disclosed that participants at the three-day Expo would take part in investment forums, business exhibitions, policy dialogues and networking sessions covering sectors including infrastructure, technology, renewable energy, real estate, solid minerals, sports and the creative industry.
According to her, the Expo is expected to generate strategic partnerships and unlock investments that will accelerate economic growth, create jobs and strengthen Abuja’s position as West Africa’s emerging investment capital.