FCT, QATAR TO PARTNER ON INFRASTRUCTURE

…AS QATAR AIRWAYS EXPANDS DAILY FLIGHTS TO ABUJA

By: Wisdom Acka

​The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has expressed its readiness to partner with the State of Qatar to accelerate infrastructure development, boost city planning, and drive foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s capital city.

​This emerged Tuesday, 13 October, 2026, when the Qatari Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Ambassador Yousef Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hail, paid a courtesy visit to the FCT Minister, HE Nyesom Wike, at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja.

​Receiving the Qatari envoy, the Minister assured the ambassador of the FCT Administration’s commitment to supporting Qatari investments and resolving all administrative and legal hindrances regarding land allocations designated for the Qatari Embassy in the Diplomatic Zone.

​Reacting to concerns raised by the envoy over a court notification regarding Qatar’s 8,000-square-metre plot in the Central Business District, Wike clarified that no court order halts development on the property, instructing the FCT General Counsel to immediately review the matter and safeguard the land.

​”Nobody can stop your development. It is the FCT Administration that allocated the land to Qatar, and we appreciate your efforts in securing and fencing it.

“We want to assure you that whatever documents you present, we will take immediate action. We want Qatar and other diplomatic missions to feel secure in developing their properties without hindrance,”the Minister stated.

​Wike praised Qatar’s global footprint in urban design, sports, and aviation, revealing plans to lead a high-powered FCT delegation to Doha to study Qatar’s modern urban design concepts and replicate them in Abuja.

​”We want to partner with you to see how we can develop new, modern smart cities in Abuja. Qatar has demonstrated immense capacity in hosting international events and executing world-class urban planning.

“We will assemble a delegation to visit Doha to study your city models, infrastructure, and investment frameworks,” the Minister noted, adding that security across the FCT has significantly improved to support large-scale international partnerships.

Wike commended Qatari developmental institutions for their philanthropic interventions in schools, healthcare facilities, and poverty alleviation schemes, assuring the envoy that the FCT Administration remains open to deeper collaboration across all sectors.

​Speaking earlier, Ambassador Al-Hail reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Nigeria, particularly through enhanced air connectivity, strategic urban collaboration, and humanitarian development.

​The envoy announced major aviation developments, revealing that Qatar Airways will upgrade its flight schedule from Doha to Abuja from four weekly flights to daily operations starting this November, alongside existing daily flights to Lagos.

​”Qatar Airways will begin daily flights from Doha to Abuja this November using our flagship Boeing Dreamliner aircraft. Passenger demand on the Nigerian route is exceptionally high, with business class seats often booked months in advance,” Ambassador Al-Hail said.

He added that Qatar aims to eventually expand operations to three daily flights to Abuja to meet demand and lower airfares.

​Highlighting Qatar’s long-term urban and economic development targets under its National Vision 2030—including hosting the 2030 Asian Games and bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games—the Ambassador emphasized the need to align urban strategies between Abuja and Doha.

​”We have built seamless transport links connecting cities, airports, and regional routes. We want to enhance our vision with the FCT, share technical details, and engineer new ways to build and connect smart cities,” Al-Hail noted.

​The Ambassador also highlighted the extensive humanitarian and developmental contributions of Qatari agencies—including Qatar Charity, Qatar Foundation, and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD)—which have executed educational, healthcare, and water supply projects across Abuja and various Nigerian states.