Wike signs Abuja City Walk Deal, sets May 2026 deadline for phase one

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has announced the commencement of the Abuja City Walk project in partnership with MAG International Links Limited.

The ambitious regeneration project aims to emulate global models, such as Dubai City Walk and London’s Canary Wharf.

The deal was formalised in Abuja after the FCT administration issued the development plan approval and Certificate of Occupancy.

Wike said the 200-hectare site along the Airport Expressway will serve as a flagship model for transforming the capital’s urban landscape.

He noted that the agreement includes strict timelines and legal provisions that allow for the revocation of land if developers fail to meet project milestones.

“If anybody has gone to Dubai and has seen the Dubai City Walk, there is no way you will not appreciate and encourage investors to come, that we are willing to work with them,” Wike said.

He said past cases of land speculation disguised as development interest would no longer be tolerated.

To prevent abuse, the new agreement includes provisions for non-compliance.

The minister stated that one phase of the project must be completed by May 2026 to coincide with President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.

He also directed that the foundation of the project be laid within one month of signing.

“In the first part of it, from now till May, next year, which will be the third anniversary of the President, one aspect of it must be completed,” he said.

“And that from now till August, the foundation must be laid. So that is the whole essence of our gathering here today.”

Wike said he warned the developers before sealing the deal.

“When they approached us, I made it clear to them that I’ve heard of people being interested in development partnership and they ask for land,” he said.

“But at the end of the day, you hardly see any investment or development. They turn to land speculators and I said we are not going to accept that.

“But we have to sign an agreement that if you don’t comply within so-so and so-so time, then we have the right to revoke because we are not going to just give you a C of O to say we are giving you land and then nothing happens. We will not accept that again.”

Wike also blamed some delays in past FCT projects on bureaucracy but said steps have been taken to avoid similar setbacks for the City Walk.