Federal Capital in Nigeria for Primary 4

Federal Capital in Nigeria

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. mention the first Federal Capital of Nigeria;
2. mention when it was made the Federal Capital;
3. identify the name of the governor general;
4. identify the name of the current Federal Capital;
5. mention the year the current Federal Capital was created;
6. identify the location of the old and current Federal capital;
7. Identify the implications of changing the old to the new Federal capital.

What is a Federal Capital?

A federal capital is the main city where the central government of a country is located. It is usually where the President, the National Assembly, and other important government offices are found. This city serves as the administrative and political centre of the country.

Nigeria, like many other countries, has had different federal capitals at different times in its history. These changes were made for various important reasons.

The First Federal Capital: Lagos

Before Nigeria became fully independent, and even for some years after, the city of Lagos served as the federal capital. Lagos is a large city located in the South-Western part of Nigeria, by the Atlantic Ocean.

Lagos became the capital of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria in 1914. This was the year when the Northern and Southern Protectorates were joined together by the British colonial government.

The Governor-General at that time was Sir Frederick Lord Lugard. He was the person who brought the Northern and Southern Protectorates together to form one Nigeria.

Lagos was chosen as the capital because it was a major port city and a centre for trade and administration during the colonial period. It was easy for ships to bring goods and people into the country through Lagos.

The Current Federal Capital: Abuja

Over time, Lagos grew very big and faced many challenges as a capital city. The government decided that a new capital was needed. This new capital would be centrally located and planned to serve the needs of a growing nation.

The current Federal Capital of Nigeria is Abuja. It is located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which is in the central part of Nigeria. Abuja was chosen because of its central location, easy accessibility from all parts of the country, and its potential for planned development.

Abuja was officially established as the new Federal Capital in 1976. The decision to move the capital was made by the military government led by General Murtala Muhammed. However, the actual movement of government offices and the full establishment of Abuja as the seat of government happened much later.

The movement of the capital from Lagos to Abuja was completed in 1991, during the government of General Ibrahim Babangida. He was the Head of State who officially moved the seat of government to Abuja.

Reasons for Changing the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja

The decision to move the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja was made for several important reasons:

1. Overpopulation and Congestion: Lagos became very crowded with too many people and vehicles. This led to heavy traffic, pollution, and difficulty in moving around the city.
2. Lack of Space for Expansion: Lagos is surrounded by water, which limited the space available for new government buildings and future growth.
3. Security Concerns: As a coastal city, Lagos was seen as vulnerable to external attacks. A centrally located capital would be more secure.
4. Neutrality: Lagos was strongly associated with a particular ethnic group and region. The government wanted a capital that would be neutral and belong to all Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic background.
5. Central Location: Abuja’s central location makes it easily accessible from all parts of Nigeria, promoting unity and fairness.
6. Planned City: Abuja was designed from scratch to be a modern capital city with good infrastructure, wide roads, and proper planning for government offices and residential areas.

Implications of Changing the Federal Capital

The change of the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja had many important effects, known as implications:

1. Development of a New City: Abuja grew from a small settlement into a modern, well-planned city with new roads, buildings, and facilities.
2. Shift of Government Activities: All major government ministries, departments, and agencies moved their headquarters from Lagos to Abuja. This meant that important decisions and policies are now made in Abuja.
3. Economic Impact on Lagos: While Lagos lost its status as the political capital, it remained Nigeria’s economic hub, a major commercial centre, and a busy port city. Many businesses and industries are still located there.
4. Increased Cost: Building a new capital city from scratch required a lot of money and resources.
5. National Unity: The central location and neutrality of Abuja helped to foster a sense of national unity and belonging among Nigerians from different regions.
6. New Infrastructure: The development of Abuja led to the construction of new airports, roads, hospitals, and schools, improving infrastructure in the central region.

Identifying the Old and Current Federal Capitals on a Map

It is important to know where Lagos and Abuja are located on the map of Nigeria. This helps in understanding their geographical importance.

Observe the map of Nigeria below.

The procedure for identifying the capitals on a map involves the following steps:

1. Locate Lagos: Look towards the south-western part of Nigeria, along the coast. Lagos State is usually marked there.
2. Locate Abuja: Look towards the central part of Nigeria. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is usually marked as a distinct area, and Abuja is within it.
3. Note the Difference: Observe that Lagos is on the coast, while Abuja is inland, in the middle of the country.