Nigeria's capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja in 1991.
True Confidence: high
Checked on 6 November 2026 · News Intelligence. Checked by two independent AI checks, editor review pending.
The claim
Nigeria's capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja in 1991.
What we found
Nigeria's capital was indeed moved from Lagos to Abuja in December 1991. Multiple reliable sources, including Britannica and Africa Check, confirm that Abuja replaced Lagos as the federal capital on 12 December 1991. This is a well-documented historical fact.
The reasoning
Nigeria's capital was indeed moved from Lagos to Abuja in December 1991. Multiple reliable sources, including Britannica and Africa Check, confirm that Abuja replaced Lagos as the federal capital on 12 December 1991. This is a well-documented historical fact.
Context: The movement of Nigeria's capital from Lagos to Abuja was a planned process that began in the 1970s. Lagos, as the former capital, suffered from overcrowding, pollution, and a lack of central geographical location. Abuja was chosen for its more central position and perceived neutrality among Nigeria's ethnic and religious groups. The Federal Capital Territory was created in 1976, and construction of the new city began in the 1980s. The official move took place on 12 December 1991 under the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida. Today, Abuja serves as the seat of the federal government, while Lagos remains Nigeria's economic and commercial hub.
Correction: The claim is accurate as stated. Nigeria's capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja in December 1991, with the specific date being 12 December 1991.
Sources
Britannica, a highly respected encyclopaedia, directly states that Lagos was the federal capital until December 1991 and that Abuja replaced it.
Africa Check, a leading fact-checking organisation, reports that Abuja became the new capital in December 1991.
Wikipedia, while less authoritative, confirms the specific date of 12 December 1991 and the replacement of Lagos by Abuja.
An academic paper on ResearchGate also states that Abuja officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, adding further corroboration.
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