Abuja city profile

Abuja, the most rapidly growing city in Africa, is not just a modern capital city of Nigeria. It is a city that is being contested by the elites who desire to realize their modernist vision of an orderly and beautiful city and the poor who struggle to stitch together a living largely in the informal sector. Abuja is also the destination of innumerable unemployed people who migrate to the city in search of perceived employment opportunities and of those who see the city as much safer than other parts of the country. It is within this context, coupled with limited resources, that the city administration is struggling to cope with the increasing challenges of providing housing, basic public services and an efficient transportation system. The key issue is whether the government's partnership with the private sector in the development of Abuja in the last decade can meet these challenges.