Tinubu, Wike hailed for tackling housing via Smart City

Says urban renewal agenda aligns with climate goals, tackles housing deficit

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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant and real estate investor, Moses Ayom, has lauded President Bola Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for their commitment to realising the Abuja Smart City Vision, describing it as a transformative step that will reshape Nigeria’s capital.

Ayom’s commendation followed Wike’s presentation at the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai, where the minister unveiled Abuja’s Smart City blueprint to city leaders, investors, and policy experts.

Wike told the summit that the initiative rests on five key pillars: Urban Mobility, Sustainability, Public Safety, Digital Governance, and Economic Empowerment, supported by international collaborations and private sector investment.

Ayom, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Hongye Group, said in Abuja that the urbanisation plan represents a major catalyst for socio-economic renewal, noting that Tinubu’s push to modernise the FCT would boost infrastructure, attract investment, ease housing pressure, and advance Nigeria’s climate targets.

“The commitment being shown by President Tinubu and Minister Wike gives me renewed hope that our dream of building Africa’s largest Green Smart City in Ketti will soon be a reality,” Ayom said. “With the opening of new districts and renewed infrastructural expansion, issues of traffic congestion, housing deficit and environmental decay will soon be a thing of the past.”

A member of the 2016 Presidential Trade Mission to China alongside Aliko Dangote, Ayom described the Ketti Smart City project as a model for sustainable development, integrating smart technology, renewable energy, and digital governance.

“When completed, Ketti will rival global smart cities like Dubai, Shenzhen, and Milton Keynes,” he said. “It will create jobs, attract technology-driven enterprises, and drastically reduce housing costs through innovative public-private partnerships.”

Wike, during his Dubai presentation, highlighted collaborations with Japan’s JICA on smart water metering, Chinese investors on intelligent traffic systems, and projects such as the Abuja City Walk and Abuja Industrial Park.

“These partnerships demonstrate our resolve to build a modern city that leverages technology and collaboration to improve quality of life,” Wike said.