Why did Murtala Ramat Mohammed begin moving Nigeria’s capital to Abuja?

Murtala Ramat Mohammed initiated the move of Nigeria’s capital to Abuja primarily to address the severe limitations of the former capital, Lagos. By the mid-1970s, Lagos suffered from extreme overcrowding, significant traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and a lack of space for necessary urban expansion.12

The selection of the Abuja site was driven by several strategic factors:
* Centrality: Its location in the central part of the country provided better accessibility for all Nigerians.3
* Environment: The area offered a more salubrious, cooler climate with less humidity than the coastal environment of Lagos.3
* Development Potential: The site featured low population density and ample land, allowing for the creation of Nigeria’s first planned city with room for future growth.3

The transition was part of a broader effort to establish a functional administrative center, with the Federal Capital Territory being created in 1976 to facilitate this development.3