# Abuja Chosen as New Capital (4 February 1976)

URL: https://allhistories.com/nigeria/timeline/1976-abuja-chosen-as-new-capital
Location: Abuja
Themes: main-event

A decree of 4 February 1976 created the Federal Capital Territory around Abuja and started the move from overcrowded Lagos. Abuja was to be in the geographic centre, away from the three majority groups. Planning began with international consultants. Building took more than a decade, and Abuja officially replaced Lagos as the capital on 12 December 1991. It was incorporated as a city in 1984. At the date of this event the principal authority over the largest part of present-day Nigeria lay with Murtala Muhammed, Military Head of State (1975–1976). Abuja symbolised national unity and a break with ethnic power bases.

## Why it matters
Abuja was built as a neutral capital in the centre of the country.

Ruler at the Time: [Murtala Muhammed](https://allhistories.com/nigeria/rulers/murtala-muhammed)

## Sources
- [Abuja](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuja)
- [countrystudies.us](https://countrystudies.us/nigeria/)
- [History of Nigeria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Nigeria)