By Adamu Lawal Toro
When Nigeria moved its capital from Lagos to Abuja, the vision was clear. Abuja was to become a model city, a symbol of national unity, efficiency, modern planning and sustainable urban development. Designed from the outset as a purpose-built capital, Abuja was meant to avoid the congestion, chaos and infrastructural challenges that plagued many African cities. More than four decades after its establishment, however, Abuja is increasingly struggling to live up to those lofty expectations.
Today, for many civil servants, artisans, traders and small-scale business owners, Abuja is becoming an expensive city to live in and even more expensive to navigate. Transportation costs have risen sharply, commuting times are increasing, and many residents are finding it difficult to move efficiently between home, work and business locations. The absence of a reliable, affordable and integrated public transport system is one of the major factors driving this situation.
Transportation is the lifeblood of every modern city. It connects people to jobs, businesses to markets, students to schools and patients to hospitals. A city that lacks an efficient transport system pays a heavy economic price through lost productivity, higher living costs and reduced competitiveness. Unfortunately, Abuja has not invested sufficiently in the kind of mass transit systems required by a rapidly growing population.
The city was designed for fewer than three million residents. Today, the Federal Capital Territory and its surrounding satellite towns accommodate a population far beyond the original projections. Every day, hundreds of thousands of workers travel from places such as Kubwa, Nyanya, Mararaba, Lugbe, Karu, Gwagwalada and Kuje into the city centre. Most rely on private vehicles, taxis, tricycles and informal transport services that are often costly, unreliable and vulnerable to fuel price fluctuations.
The removal of fuel subsidies and the rising cost of living have further exposed the weaknesses of Abuja’s transport infrastructure. Many workers now spend a significant portion of their monthly income on transportation alone. Small-scale business owners face increased operating costs as the movement of goods and services becomes more expensive. The result is a reduction in disposable income, lower business profitability and growing economic hardship for ordinary residents.
What makes Abuja’s situation particularly frustrating is that the solutions are neither new nor complicated. Across the world, successful cities have recognised that no single mode of transportation can adequately serve growing urban populations. Instead, they have adopted integrated multimodal transport systems that combine buses, rail services, non-motorised transport and alternative energy solutions into one coordinated network.
Nigeria already has examples that Abuja can learn from. Lagos, despite its enormous population and historical planning challenges, has made remarkable progress in modernising urban transportation. The city has invested in Bus Rapid Transit corridors, expanded rail services, introduced water transportation options and continues to explore innovative mobility solutions. While challenges remain, Lagos has demonstrated that political will and long-term planning can transform urban mobility.
Similarly, cities around the world are embracing cleaner and more efficient transport technologies. Electric buses, compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, integrated ticketing systems, dedicated bus lanes and smart mobility platforms are becoming standard features of modern urban management. These investments reduce congestion, lower transport costs and improve environmental sustainability.
Abuja possesses advantages that many cities can only dream of. It has wide roads, carefully planned districts, available land for future expansion and a relatively modern physical layout. Unlike older cities constrained by decades of unplanned growth, Abuja still has the opportunity to develop a world-class transportation system before its challenges become overwhelming.
The Abuja Light Rail project was a step in the right direction, but residents are yet to see it being operational despite the hype at its lauch due to restricted routes, operational challenges and insufficient integration with other modes of transportation. Rail infrastructure alone cannot solve the city’s mobility problems. What Abuja requires is a comprehensive transport master plan that links rail services with modern bus networks, park-and-ride facilities, pedestrian infrastructure and environmentally friendly mobility solutions.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration should prioritise the development of an extensive Bus Rapid Transit system(BRT) connecting major residential districts and satellite towns with business and government centres. Dedicated bus lanes would improve travel times while reducing traffic congestion. Affordable fares would provide immediate relief to workers and small business operators struggling with transportation costs.
Equally important is the need to accelerate the adoption of CNG-powered public transport fleets. Nigeria possesses abundant natural gas resources that can significantly reduce transport costs when properly utilised. Transitioning public transportation to CNG would help cushion residents from volatile fuel prices while contributing to cleaner urban air quality.
Abuja must also become more pedestrian-friendly. A truly modern city is not measured solely by the number of roads it builds but by how safely and comfortably people can move within it. Many areas of the capital lack adequate sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and cycling infrastructure. Encouraging non-motorised transportation would not only improve mobility but also promote healthier lifestyles and environmental sustainability.
Technology should also play a central role in Abuja’s transportation future. Smart ticketing systems, real-time passenger information, route planning applications and integrated payment platforms can improve efficiency and convenience for commuters. The era when public transportation relied entirely on cash transactions and manual coordination is rapidly disappearing across the world.
Beyond transportation, Abuja must confront a broader question about its identity and future. Is it content to remain a city known primarily for government offices and political activities, or does it aspire to become a truly modern African capital that serves as a model for urban development? The answer will depend largely on the willingness of policymakers to invest in infrastructure that directly improves the daily lives of residents.
The success of any capital city should not be measured by impressive government buildings alone. It should be measured by the ease with which ordinary people can move around, conduct business, access opportunities and enjoy a decent quality of life. When workers spend hours commuting and large portions of their income on transportation, the city is failing one of its most basic responsibilities.
Abuja was conceived as the city of Nigeria’s future. It was built to represent the nation’s highest aspirations. Yet aspirations alone do not create modern cities. Vision must be matched by action, planning and investment. The city still possesses enormous potential, but time is running out. Population growth continues, transportation challenges are mounting and the cost of inaction is increasing.
Abuja must rise to the expectations placed upon it. It must embrace integrated transportation, modern mobility solutions and people-centred urban planning. The capital deserves nothing less, and the millions of Nigerians who live and work there deserve a city that functions as efficiently as the vision that inspired its creation.
The time for Abuja to become a truly modern city is now.
Toro resides in zone 7 Abuja
