FCTA WELCOMES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH SAUDI ARABIA

…AS MINISTER RECEIVES SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA

By: RABI MUSA UMAR

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has expressed the readiness of the FCT Administration to partner with Riyadh and other modern cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to foster urban development and mutual economic growth.

The Minister made this known on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Abuja while receiving the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, His Excellency, Yousef Bin Mohammed Al Balawi, during a courtesy visit to his office.

Welcoming the Ambassador, Barr. Wike highlighted the long-standing and robust relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, and particularly stressed on the hospitable treatment of Nigerian pilgrims during Hajj. He emphasized that his administration was eager to translate these cordial ties into tangible urban cooperation.

The Minister said, “Your coming today is for us to solidify and make sure that we work together for our mutual interest. Saudi Arabia is very important, not just as a leading city in the Gulf States but also in the world. We would like to capitalize on that good relationship to see how our cities can cooperate, learn from each other, and see what we can do together for the mutual benefit of the two countries”.

Barr. Wike further indicated his interest in visiting Riyadh and other major Saudi cities for formal exchanges and collaborative opportunities that would yield mutual benefits for both nations’ capital cities.

Responding to the Ambassador’s praise for Abuja’s modern infrastructure, Barr. Wike credited the progress to the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He noted that while the city is still evolving, the current administration possesses the political will to make Abuja a world-class capital.

Thanking the Ambassador for the visit, the Minister assured that the FCT Administration will continue to provide a safe and enabling environment for the diplomatic community to carry out their legitimate businesses.

Earlier in his remarks, Ambassador Yousef Bin Mohammed Al Balawi, expressed his admiration for the Nigerian people and the beauty of the FCT, noting that he has felt at home since he formally assumed duty in Nigeria in February, 2026. He called for a deeper exchange of experience in security, economy, and urban planning.

“I’m looking forward to strengthening our relationship in many fields—political, diplomatic, economic, security, and education. We need to work together to exchange our experience on how we can build beautiful, green, and modern cities like Abuja through exchanges between Abuja and Riyadh”, he said.

Ambassador Yousef noted that major Saudi cities like Jeddah share similar atmospheric and planning potentials with Abuja, which he said provides a solid foundation for future bilateral cooperation between the two cities.