Abuja (/əˈbuːdʒə/ ə-BOO-jə, Yoruba: Àbújá Yoruba pronunciation: [àbúd͡ʒá]) is the capital city of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,[4] strategically situated at the geographic midpoint of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). As the seat of the Federal Government of Nigeria, it hosts key national institutions, landmarks, and buildings spread across its over 50 districts. It replaced Lagos (the most populous city in Nigeria) as the capital on 12 December 1991.[5][6]
Abuja’s geography is defined by Aso Rock, a 400 metres monolith left by water erosion. The Presidential Complex, National Assembly,[7] Supreme Court, and much of the city extend to the south of the rock. Zuma Rock, a 725 metres monolith, lies just north of the city on the expressway to Kaduna.[8][9][10]
At the 2006 census, the city of Abuja had a population of 776,298[11] and 179,674 households[12] making it one of the ten most populous cities in Nigeria (eighth place in 2006). According to the United Nations, Abuja grew by 139.7% between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest-growing city in the world.[13] As of 2015, the city is experiencing an annual growth of at least 35%, retaining its position as the fastest-growing city on the African continent and one of the fastest-growing in the world.[14][15]