— Commends minister’s green transformation of Abuja
— Urges youth to embrace environmental protection
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja
First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for transforming Abuja’s City Gate into a major recreational and environmental landmark, saying history would judge him by his contributions to the development of the nation’s capital.
Speaking at a ceremony recognising the FCT Administration’s environmental initiatives, the First Lady said the transformation of the City Gate reflected the objectives of the recently concluded Community Category of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Green Nigeria Challenge.
She described the redevelopment of the landmark as “unbelievable” and praised the minister for the achievement.
“When I saw what he did with the City Gate, my God, unbelievable. I want to thank him. He has done very well,” she said.
Senator Tinubu expressed disappointment that no state participated in the Community Category of the Green Nigeria Challenge despite a ₦50 million prize offered to encourage the reclamation of abandoned public spaces and dumpsites.
“It was a ₦50 million prize and no state entered. This was supposed to get our youth involved,” she said.
According to her, the initiative was designed to encourage communities to transform neglected public spaces into clean, attractive and environmentally friendly locations.
“The transformation reflects the vision behind the just concluded Community Category of the Challenge, which was designed to encourage youth groups to transform degraded public spaces, including dumpsites and abandoned areas, into green parks, gardens and other eco-friendly spaces.
“Our goal is to complement government’s efforts in beautifying the environment, promoting healthier communities and improving the quality of life of our people.
“The remodelled Abuja City Gate is an excellent example of what abandoned public areas can become—a transformed national landmark that warmly welcomes Nigerians and visitors to the nation’s capital.”
The First Lady also urged the wives of state governors to mobilise young people to participate in environmental clubs and sustainability initiatives in schools and tertiary institutions.
“I appeal to our First Ladies to encourage our young people to join environmental clubs and societies. We have to engage them because everyone has something to contribute to the development of this country,” she said.
She recalled her involvement in the Youth Environmental Programme for West Africa as a student, describing it as a memorable experience that strengthened her commitment to environmental sustainability.
In his remarks, Wike said the First Lady inspired the transformation of the City Gate through her consistent advocacy for environmental improvement.
He disclosed that Senator Tinubu had challenged the FCT Administration to improve the appearance of Abuja after observing the standards of public spaces in other countries.
“She called me and asked why we travel abroad without learning from what we see. She pointed to the condition of our City Gate and encouraged us to do something about it,” he said.
According to the minister, the FCT Administration subsequently engaged the original designers of the City Gate to produce a new design that has transformed the area into a vibrant recreational centre.
“Today, whenever you pass there, even at night, you see people gathered there. There is life and activity. That is how it should be,” he said.
Wike said similar projects would be replicated in other parts of Abuja, including the Lifecamp area, where plans are underway to redesign an existing green space into another recreational centre.
He stressed that environmental sustainability remains essential to national development, noting that clean surroundings and green spaces are key features of well-developed cities.
“Nobody can talk about the development of any country or city where the environment is not clean. When you visit other countries, what attracts you is the beauty, the green environment and the clean surroundings,” he said.
The minister thanked the First Lady for recognising the FCT Administration’s efforts, saying her encouragement had inspired the administration to do more.
At the event, Senator Tinubu presented Certificates of Commendation on behalf of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to Wike and the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure.
She also announced that entries for the Household and State categories of the Green Nigeria Challenge will remain open until December 20, 2026.
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