Unsung heroes of Abuja master plan: Prof Kingsley O. Ologe

The success story of Abuja from 1976 is always being written, but many are forgotten, or not even known. Among those personalities that could never be forgotten is Late Prof. Akin Mabogunje. That was why he was made the resource person to deliver the keynote address at the opening of the Abuja at 30 celebrations, […]

The success story of Abuja from 1976 is always being written, but many are forgotten, or not even known. Among those personalities that could never be forgotten is Late Prof. Akin Mabogunje.

That was why he was made the resource person to deliver the keynote address at the opening of the Abuja at 30 celebrations, about 20 years ago. The Late Professor mentioned that, they were saddled with the task of carrying out an Ecological Survey of the territory after the delimitation of the FCT by the Justice Akinola Aguda Committee.

The Ecological Survey Report was one of the most important backbones in the production of the Abuja Master Plan. Many aspects of the Master Plan were from the Ecological Survey. It also provided me with vital information for my M.Sc. URP Thesis in 1995. One of such specific references was the choice of the Gwagwa plains as the site for the city.

The late professor revealed that he led a team of 12 scientist for the assignment, with Suleja as their base, between 1976 and 1978. He said: “My joy and excitement can thus be appreciated, that 30 years on, a very impressive modern city has emerged on the site we chose out of the wilderness of the past”.

It is getting to 50 years today from 1976. All the other members of that team of 12 were forgotten or not even known. However, at least one is still alive.

Part of my official responsibilities as a Town Planning Officer from 1989 was briefing visitors on official tours to Abuja, on the history and planning of the Federal Capital City. Subsequently, the visitors would be conducted round the special places of interest within the city and its regional areas.

Sometime between 1991 and 1994 we received visitors from Command and Staff College (CSC) Jaji. In those days they used to come for annual tours for study of the planning and history of the Federal Capital City. On that year’s visit, they requested to learn the reasons for the choice of the geographical location of the city against other regions of the entire 8,000 square kilometers FCT land area. They wanted to obtain their information not from us, the FCDA staff saddled with the official responsibility, but from those that determined the location of the city in the Master Plan.

Therefore, one of their places of call was the University of Abuja, for a briefing by Professor Kingsley O. Ologe, the Head of Geography Department. Because he was the chief geomorphologists in the production of the Ecological Survey, under the leadership of late Professor Mabogunje.

As soon as he saw me in his office in the company of the military officers, after greetings he asked me, “So, you are now working with the FCT Administration?” I thought he won’t recognise me. He was my lecturer and the Head of Geography Department ABU, before his move to Abuja. He told me that he never forgets the faces of his students.

It is now more than 30 years from our meeting at the University of Abuja. My memory of Prof. Ologe was rekindled by my senior colleague and former FCDA Executive Secretary, Tpl. Zaliha’u Ahmed, another of his former students at ABU Zaria. Prof Ologe sent her an inspiring message last week.

He wrote. “Being driven around Abuja makes me feel good. You know why? It’s because I made a significant contribution to the development of this bustling city at the very beginning when the area was just thick bush punctuated by farmland and dotted with a few sleepy villages.

“The government of Gen. Murtala Muhammed had decreed the New Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into existence in 1976 and had set up the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to oversee its development. The FCDA commissioned Nigeria’s preeminent geographer at that time, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, to carry out the First Ecological Survey of the FCT and recommend the best site for Nigeria’s new capital.

“Prof. Mabogunje put together a group of consultants drawn from Nigerian universities to undertake this task. I was privileged to be among his team of three Geomorphologists, the other members being the late Prof. Adetoye Faniran, the team leader, and Dr. Fola S. Ebisemiju. Our team was given the task of carrying out a Terrain and Drainage Analysis of the territory and, among other things, recommend the best site for the new capital within its area of 8000 square kilometers. Before we had gone far with our assignment, Prof. Faniran was appointed a Commissioner in Oyo State, leaving me to lead a two-man team.

“I am happy to say that we completed our assignment the most important aspect of it being to recommend the best possible site within the FCT for the country’s new capital. Prof. Mabogunje submitted his Report of the First Ecological Survey of the New Federal Capital Territory to the FCDA. I find it most gratifying that the FCDA accepted my team’s recommendation and that is why Abuja is where it is today.

“Now you know why, almost half a century down the road, and as an 82-year-old retired Professor, I always feel happy when I am being driven around the city”.

The FCT Administration used to have a programme of annual award for distinguished personalities in service, and contribution for building the capital city. The 82-year old Professor deserves more than such honours, and apology for being forgotten all these years. All including me should share that blame. The FCTA should please take note.