<P> The indigenous inhabitants of Abuja are the Gbagyi ( Gwari ) as the major language , Bassa , Gwandara , Gade , Ganagana , Koro etc . In light of the ethnic and religious divisions of Nigeria , plans had been devised since Nigeria 's independence to have its capital in a place deemed neutral to all major ethnic parties , and also in close proximity to all the regions of Nigeria . The location was eventually designated in the centre of the country in the early 1970s as it signified neutrality and national unity . Another impetus for Abuja came because of Lagos ' population boom that made that city overcrowded and conditions squalid . As Lagos was already undergoing rapid economic development , the Nigerian regime felt the need to expand the economy towards the inner part of the country , and hence decided to move its capital to Abuja . The logic used was similar to the way Brazil planned its capital , Brasília . The decision to move to Abuja was made by General Murtala Mohammed in 1976 . Construction started in the late 1970s but , due to economic and political instability , the initial stages of the city were not complete until the late 1980s . </P>
<P> The indigenous inhabitants of Abuja are the Gbagyi ( Gwari ) as the major language , Bassa , Gwandara , Gade , Ganagana , Koro etc . In light of the ethnic and religious divisions of Nigeria , plans had been devised since Nigeria 's independence to have its capital in a place deemed neutral to all major ethnic parties , and also in close proximity to all the regions of Nigeria . The location was eventually designated in the centre of the country in the early 1970s as it signified neutrality and national unity . Another impetus for Abuja came because of Lagos ' population boom that made that city overcrowded and conditions squalid . As Lagos was already undergoing rapid economic development , the Nigerian regime felt the need to expand the economy towards the inner part of the country , and hence decided to move its capital to Abuja . The logic used was similar to the way Brazil planned its capital , Brasília . The decision to move to Abuja was made by General Murtala Mohammed in 1976 . Construction started in the late 1970s but , due to economic and political instability , the initial stages of the city were not complete until the late 1980s . </P>
who moved nigeria capital from lagos to abuja
who moved nigeria capital from lagos to abuja
General Murtala Mohammed
General Murtala Mohammed