President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially launched the ambitious Abuja City Walk Development project with the inauguration of its experience centre.
Speaking during the ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, July 16, 2026, President Tinubu described the the multi-billion-dollar project, located within the Abuja Technology Village (ATV) corridor along the strategic Airport Road, as one of the most ambitious private-sector collaborations in Nigeria’s history.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event which was attended by high-profile government officials, foreign diplomats, and captains of industry, President Tinubu stated that the project is a tangible manifestation of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He emphasized that the ambitious Abuja City Walk project, modeled after the Dubai City Walk, was not merely an architectural marvel, but a gateway to a prosperous, modern future designed to reposition the Federal Capital Territory as a premier global hub for commerce, tourism, and luxury living.
“Today, we are not just opening a building; we are unveiling the window to a multi-billion-dollar future. On assumption of office, we promised Nigerians a radical economic transformation and infrastructure renewal. This Experience Centre stands as proof that our administration does not just make promises: we execute them with determination,” President Tinubu declared.
To maximize the economic potential of the development, the President announced that the corridor has been granted Free Trade Zone status, which will eliminate traditional trade friction and foster a fertile environment for regional commerce, medical tourism, premium retail, and high-end hospitality.
Beyond its physical grandeur, President Tinubu also explained that the Abuja City Walk is designed as a massive economic engine tailored for Nigeria’s unique demographic trajectory.
He said with the average age of the Nigerian population sitting at a youthful 17.9 years, and the nation projected to reach 440 million people by 2050, mega projects of such scale were vital to channelling youth energy productively.
President Tinubu added that the development is expected to generate tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs, stimulating localized supply chains from cement manufacturing to advanced digital tech services.
He commended the Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for his dogged leadership and unwavering focus on execution, stressing that the Minister, through aggressive land administration reforms and the eradication of bureaucratic inertia, has transformed the Abuja Technology Village corridor which lay dormant for decades into a bustling construction hub.
Reassuring the global business community, President Tinubu said, “Let me use this medium to reassure both domestic and international investors — Nigeria is open for business, and your investments are safe.”
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Speaking earlier at the ceremony, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, revealed that the ATV corridor had lain dormant for over three decades, during which parts of the land fell prey to speculators and land grabbers brandishing forged documents.
The Minister said under his leadership, the FCT Administration reclaimed the corridor, cleared bureaucratic hurdles, and established a fast-tracked development committee to oversee the execution of the project.
In an unprecedented administrative feat, the Minister disclosed that critical building approvals that usually take months were finalized in just forty-eight hours, while access roads were aggressively constructed by CGCNigeria Limited to prepare the site.
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However, the FCT Minister issued a stern warning to the development partners, MAG International Links and Link Developments, reminding them that the land allocation is strictly tied to performance and that the FCT Administration will not tolerate delays.
“The only thing we can do, we will have a memorandum of understanding where we give timelines. From this period to this period, you have achieved this milestone… If that is not achieved, we will take back our land. Because I’m not interested in theory. I’m interested in keeping to our agreements,” the FCT Minister asserted.
Presenting a detailed overview of the project, the Executive Director of Detric Links Development, Dr. Kassim Gidado, described the launch as an opportunity to experience firsthand the future being built and the massive value about to be created. He said the official launch of the Project Master Plan is designed to guide the development in a structured, sustainable, and impactful manner.
In his words, “It reflects careful planning, thoughtful engagement, and an unwavering commitment to delivering lasting value for all stakeholders. Our aim is to create a city within a city that is inspired by the Dubai CityWalk but reimagined at a larger, more dynamic scale, and firmly rooted in the Abuja sociocultural and environmental context”.
He further described the master plan as a modern mixed-use district where culture, innovation, commerce, and daily life converge thereby celebrating Nigeria’s creativity and offering new models for workable climate-responsive urbanism. He graphically presented the proposed City Walk as “A place where global investment and creative enterprise meet in a free trade zone, anchored by vibrant community life, iconic public spaces and green corridors…a place that is safe and secured to walk, live, and play, in an open-air, walkable urban environment.
Mr Gidado said that the CityWalk Abuja is a living ravine on 250 hectares, and is expected to have a boulevard, a small technology village which he called the ‘Abuja Silicon Valley’ which is a knowledge park housing two universities, offices, cultural hub with museums, libraries and a multipurpose indoor arena with cinemas and gyms.
Apart from being developed as a high-end residential area, Dr Gidado disclosed that it is expected that an iconic 450-meter skyscraper, unlike any in Africa, will be built on its grounds. Other facilities are to include diagnostic centers, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, medical research centers, fashion avenue, CityWalk malls, five-star hotels, utilities hub, police station, fire station, ambulance stations, mosques, and churches.
In his speech, he gave glowing tributes to the FCT Minister, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, and to the Acting Executive Secretary, Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, appreciating them for their consistent drive and support.
Representative of the project development partner and CEO Broadgate Development Group, Peter Young, who also spoke at the event expressed confidence that the Abuja City Walk will set a new African benchmark for integrated master planning, sustainability, and structural design, ultimately establishing Abuja as an irresistible destination for multinational corporations and global institutional investors.
10,000 Nigerians studying in Egyptian universities- Envoy
…Says Egypt, Nigeria deepen relations
From: Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
No fewer than 10,000 Nigeria students are currently studying in various universities in Egypt, the country’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohamed Fouad has disclosed.
This is as Fouad also disclosed that Tourism, business, and academic exchanges have intensified between both countries.
The Ambassador spoke on Thursday night at the Egypt National Day celebration.
The occasion is a commemoration of the 74th Anniversary of the 23rd of July Revolution.
Fouad said his country has experienced a lot of transformation under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which include infrastructure development, diversification of the economy and of recent, the opening of the new Strategic Command Headquarters in the New Capital — a 90-square-kilometre complex, the largest in the Middle East, serving as an integrated administrative and defense hub for crisis management and smart command.
He said the presence of Nigeria students in Egyptian universities has also helped deepen cooperation.
According to him: “Today, nearly 10,000 Nigerian students study in Egyptian universities, forming a new generation of leaders who will strengthen both societies. Tourism, business, and academic exchanges have intensified, laying a solid foundation for deeper cooperation.”
Fouad who spoke on Egypt-Nigeria relations, which dates back 1960, said “Our connection runs deeper than official relations. Centuries of cultural and commercial exchange across the Sahara have created enduring people-to-people bonds that continue to flourish.”
He stressed that “Egypt and Nigeria recognize the importance of redefining and deepening our partnership to address shared challenges”.
He explained that the July 2025, visit of Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdelatty and a high-level delegation of 30 Egyptian business leaders to Abuja was to explore cooperation opportunities in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and healthcare.
He added that the visit transformed diplomatic goodwill into practical cooperation, catalyzing joint ventures, trade expansion, and private-sector partnerships, and setting the stage for future initiatives in trade, investment, security, education, and cultural exchange.
Within the continent, the envoy who is concluding his tour of duty as Ambassador of Egypt to Nigeria next month, said “Egypt and Nigeria are pillars of African diplomacy.”
He further added: “Together we champion African unity, sovereignty, and multilateralism. We advocate African solutions to African problems and a fairer global order that reflects our continent’s aspirations. By coordinating our positions in regional organizations, we amplify Africa’s voice on development finance, peacekeeping, and climate justice, shaping policies that deliver tangible benefits to our citizens.
“Our communities in both countries play a vital role in advancing this partnership.”
He also expressed his gratitude to Nigeria for the warmth, generosity, and steadfast partnership.
The envoy said he will be departing “with treasured memories, inspired by Nigeria’s vibrant spirit and resilience, and confident that our bonds will continue to grow stronger”.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador
Ends
Your Excellencies, it is a great honour and a profound pleasure to stand before you today on behalf of Her Excellency Ambassador Bianca Odume Ojukwu, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs. I am pleased to deliver this congratulatory message commemorating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Excellencies, Excellencies, diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Egypt consume a pivotal partnership between the two of Africa’s largest and most influential economies.
Deeply rooted in history, this bilateral relationship has evolved significantly over the decades. Formal diplomatic ties were established in 1961, catalysed by the strong rapport between Nigeria’s inaugural Prime Minister, Sa’abu Bakar Safaa Balewa, and Egypt’s President, Gamal Abdel Nasser. Reflecting the cordial relations between both nations, high-level political and diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and Egypt have increased significantly.
The notable milestones include the landmark visit of former Nigerian President Muhammad led Muhammad Buhari to Egypt, which served as a catalyst for key bilateral agreements spanning aviation, healthcare, and regional security infrastructures. To build upon this momentum, exploring a subsequent high-level exchange between President Bula Ahmed Jilibudisi of Ark and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will be instrumental in further consolidating the growing partnership between the two nations. Excellencies, economic relations between Nigeria and Egypt have demonstrated steady growth over the years.
Notably, major Egyptian conglomerates, including Arab Contractors, Orascom Construction, Manfract, Esmedi, Electric, and EGPRO have established a strong presence in the Nigerian market, with collective investment now exceeding $1.4 billion.
Furthermore, in accordance with the 1964 Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BAFTA, Egypt Air currently (2:44) operates more than 15 weekly flights from Cairo to Abuja, Lagos, and Canoes. Although Egyptian authorities recently approved IBOM Air to operate on the Nigeria-Egypt route, the airline has yet to commence operations.
Additionally, to stimulate bilateral mobility, agreements have been established to grant visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders and to adjust visa fees, thereby facilitating smoother travel for both business and tourism. Culturally and educationally, Egypt remains a premier higher education destination for (3:20) thousands of Nigerian students.
Currently, approximately, the record that I have is 7,000, you mentioned 10,000, but you are getting there.
Nigerian students are enrolled in Egyptian universities and colleges, pursuing diverse disciplines across the arts and sciences. Furthermore, numerous Nigerian professional institutions and state governments have established memorandums of understanding with their Egyptian counterparts to foster collaboration in training, research, and trade. These strong institutional links have also driven an increasing number of organisations to conduct study tours across Egypt.
At the multilateral level, both nations were highly influential in shaping continental islands, contributing heavily to the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity, now African Union.
Notably, Egypt was a key political supporter of Nigeria during its difficult civil war era. Nigeria and Egypt share common ideals and positions on a number of regional and international issues.
Both countries regularly support each other’s positions at the African Union, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United Nations General Assembly Committees, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Both countries also firmly believe that the new partnership for Africa’s development is also an initiative for the development of Africa.
The new partnership for African development initiative is also the key vehicle for Africa’s development.
Egypt and Nigeria are deeply committed to preventing conflict in Africa, restructuring United Nations institutions, implementing the Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations, and peacefully resolving the Arab-Israeli crisis.
Both countries also adhere strictly to the principle of not interfering in the domestic affairs of other states. Much like Nigeria, Egypt has successfully leveraged its foreign policy to secure a prominent standing within the developing world.
Both nations are widely recognised for advocating South-South cooperation and championing the establishment of a new international economic order.
Furthermore, Nigeria and Egypt consistently support the peaceful use of nuclear energy within United Nations forums. Driven by a shared interest in localising this technology, upgrading domestic capabilities, and advancing scientific research in this vital sector, nuclear energy presents a highly promising avenue for robust bilateral cooperation in the near future.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Nigeria is dedicated to strengthening its bilateral relations with Egypt, actively seeking new channels for investment and innovation that support both our renewed Hope Agenda and Egypt’s Strategic Development Goals.
By harnessing our collective resources and dynamic youth population, we are poised to foster a more prosperous, stable, and secure Africa. In conclusion, on behalf of the Honourable Minister and the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I offer our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on this momentous milestone.
