Abuja Reports

FCTA Plans Frequent SME Expos to Boost Business Growth

Published

8 months ago

June 2, 2025

By Adenike Lawal

To fuel economic expansion in the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration is preparing to convert the Abuja SME Expo into a more frequent event, moving away from its current annual format.

Speaking at the opening of this year’s edition in Abuja, Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Abuja Enterprise Agency, Dr. Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe, said the event could become quarterly or at least biannual.

According to Emmanuel Tortiv, Head of Corporate Communications at AEA, the plan reflects a broader commitment to economic inclusion and industrial development.

“The Expo has become a critical driver of economic development and can no longer remain an annual event,” Ugwuada-Ezirigwe stated. “There’s a clear consensus among stakeholders, we need to multiply opportunities for small businesses to thrive by giving them more platforms to engage, connect, and grow.”

Held under the theme “Leveraging Financial Opportunities and Strategies to Mobilise Funding for Sustainable Growth,” this year’s Expo ties into President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting access to funding and strategic alliances for entrepreneurs.

Representing the FCT Head of Civil Service, Grace Adayilo, her personal assistant, Olaide Genevieve Yongo, praised the AEA for consistently championing SME-centered programs. She described the Expo as a practical platform advancing the ease of doing business, crediting initiatives like FCT-CARES, One Village One Product, and Rural Skills Acquisition schemes.

“This Expo is more than a funding platform,” she noted. “It offers SMEs an invaluable opportunity to build networks, attract partners, and plug into distribution and export channels.”

The event also received support from top FCT officials including Minister Nyesom Wike and Minister of State Dr. Mariya Mahmoud.

Key stakeholders such as David Opeyemi Oke of the World Trade Center Abuja delivered the keynote address, while agencies like NAFDAC and NASENI reinforced the collaborative energy at the Expo.

Launched in 2016, the Abuja SME Expo has grown into a vital platform for entrepreneurship, hosting over 1,200 businesses and attracting more than 11,000 attendees.

This year’s edition featured expert panels, advisory sessions, and targeted clinics designed to equip entrepreneurs with tools for scalable growth.

As talks advance to increase the frequency of the Expo, stakeholders believe the shift could transform Abuja’s business environment, multiplying economic returns and strengthening the SME value chain.

Abuja Reports

FCTA Approves Multi-Billion-Naira Infrastructure Contracts

Published

10 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Samson Adeyanju

By Patrick Idowu

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Executive Committee (EXCO), chaired by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has approved the ratification of several multi-billion-naira contracts aimed at improving key infrastructure and essential services in Abuja.

The approvals were given at the committee’s first meeting of 2026, held at the minister’s official residence in Life Camp.

Briefing journalists, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, said EXCO ratified a N3.79 billion contract for the emergency rehabilitation and resurfacing of roads within the Presidential Villa.

He explained that the intervention, handled by Julius Berger Plc, addressed over 30 years of wear on the roads.

EXCO also ratified a N9.8 billion contract for the construction of the Kabusa/Ketti road, completed and commissioned in June 2025. Dauda said the project was fast-tracked to address insecurity and improve access following past kidnapping incidents in the area.

In addition, the committee approved a N1.7 billion emergency contract awarded to SCC Nigeria Limited for erosion control and the restoration of major water transmission lines from the Lower Usuma Dam to avert disruption of Abuja’s water supply.

The Secretary for Education, Danlami Hayyo, disclosed that EXCO also ratified a N62 million facility management contract for the Korea Model School, noting that the FCTA has fully taken over its management to sustain high standards in basic education.

Abuja Reports

2027: Atiku’s Son Defects to APC, Backs Tinubu’s Re-Election

Published

16 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Samson Adeyanju

By Patrick Idowu

Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The defection was announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja, where Abubakar, popularly known as Abba, was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside APC leaders from the North-East.

Addressing party leaders, Abba announced his resignation from the PDP and declared his decision to join the APC, describing the move as personal and historic. He also directed members of his political platform, the Haske Atiku Organisation, to defect to the APC and mobilise support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“I am here today to formally announce my exit from my former party and my decision to join the APC. I will work with Senator Barau to actualise President Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027,” he said.

Welcoming him, APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, saying it reflected growing support for the Tinubu administration’s policies.

Senator Barau hailed the move as bold and principled, noting that Abba was motivated by belief in Tinubu’s leadership and reforms. He assured him of full support within the party.

The event’s highlight was the renaming of Abba’s political structure from Haske Atiku Organisation to Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.

Abuja Reports

Seven Injured as Bullion Van Collides With Car in Abuja

Published

16 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Samson Adeyanju

By Patrick Idowu

No fewer than seven people, including a police escort, were injured on Wednesday in an accident involving a bullion van and a Toyota Camry near the Julius Berger roundabout along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, Abuja.

The crash occurred around 2:45 p.m. after the bullion van reportedly rammed into the Camry from behind, causing extensive damage to the car and triggering a traffic gridlock on the busy expressway.

A witness, Hassan Umar, said the impact caused the bullion van to somersault several times before landing in a drainage.

He added that three occupants of the van were immediately evacuated, while the cash it was conveying was transferred to a backup escort vehicle.

Umar identified occupants of the Camry who sustained injuries as Ibrahim Isaac, 31, the driver, Muhammad Obago, 32, Sanni Uzanga, 30, and Kabiru Usman, 25. The injured were rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja, for treatment.

Police officers at the scene confirmed responding to a distress call, noting that investigations have commenced to determine the cause of the accident.