First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Praises FCT Minister Nyesom Wike Over Remodeled Abuja City Gate

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for transforming the Abuja City Gate into a modern recreational landmark.

Speaking on Monday at an award ceremony held at the State House, Abuja, the First Lady presented Certificates of Commendation to Wike and the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Bunkure, in recognition of the administration’s environmental development initiatives.

During the event, Mrs. Tinubu expressed disappointment that no state governments submitted entries for the ₦50 million community category of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Green Nigeria Challenge. The competition was designed to encourage youth-led transformations of neglected public spaces into parks and gardens. She appealed to the wives of state governors to mobilize young people into environmental societies to foster sustainable development habits.

“The remodelled Abuja City Gate is an excellent example of what abandoned public areas can become: a transformed key national landmark that warmly welcomes all Nigerians and visitors to our nation’s capital,” Mrs. Tinubu said.

In response, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike revealed that the redesign was directly inspired by the First Lady’s observations regarding urban aesthetics in global capitals. Wike noted that the venue has quickly become a vibrant destination for public relaxation and announced plans to replicate the concept in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.