President Bola Tinubu has granted financial autonomy to the capital city of Abuja, enabling it to function similarly to Nigeria's 36 states, media has reported, citing government officials familiar with the move.
According to the report, the measure falls short of granting statehood to the city but empowers Abuja to oversee finances that are currently under national government management.
Thus, the city will now have greater control over its finances, allowing it to make independent decisions. The move is expected to improve the city's overall financial management and lead to more efficient and effective delivery of public services.
The media also reported that Tony Ogunleye, the Federal Capital Territory Administration's spokesperson, had confirmed the decision and specified that a statement regarding the matter would be released at a later time.
The city is expected to create its own civil and judicial service commissions, as well as agencies for internal revenue and taxes. Although it will not possess legislative powers, it will be entirely separate from the federal bureaucracy, the report added.
Abuja, a planned city built mainly in the 1980s, replaced Lagos, the country's most populous city, as the capital in December 1991. The city serves as Nigeria's administrative and political capital, playing a key role as a major capital on the African continent due to Nigeria's geopolitical influence in regional affairs. In particular, it is an important venue for conferences, hosting multiple meetings on an annual basis.