Abuja, city and federal capital territory (2006 provisional pop. 1,405,201), central Nigeria. Plans to move the capital from Lagos were approved in 1976, and a 3,000-sq mi (7,770-sq km) capital territory was created near the old town of Abuja (renamed Suleja). The site was chosen for its location near the center of the country, its good climate, and small population. The planned city of Abuja is located in the center of the federal capital territory. Construction was carried on throughout the 1980s and Abuja officially became Nigeria's capital in 1991.

City (pop., 2003 est.: 452,000), federal capital of Nigeria. Construction of the city, at a site chosen for its healthful climate and central location about 300 mi (480 km) northeast of Lagos, began in 1976 under the architect Tange Kenzo. It officially replaced Lagos as the capital in 1991.

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