Gwagwalada is a

local government area A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a federated state, state, province, division (politica ...

in the

Federal Capital Territory A capital district, capital region, or capital territory is normally a specially designated administrative division where a country's seat of government is located. As such, in a federal model of government, no state or territory has any politic ...

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. Gwagwalada serves as the traditional headquarters of the Bassa people in FCT - Abuja, with the

Agụma Nigerian traditional rulers often derive their titles from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern Nigeria. Although they do not have formal political power, in many cases they continue to comm ...

of Gwagwalada, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji as the Chairman, Traditional Council of Chiefs, Gwagwalada Area Council. Gwagwalada has an area of 1,043 km² and a population of 157,770 at the 2006 census. It is projected to have a 6.26% growth between 2020 and 2025, the largest increase on the African continent.

History

Before the creation of Federal Capital Territory, Gwagwalada was under the Kwali District of the former Abuja emirate now

Suleja emirate The Suleja Emirate ( Hausa: ') is a Hausa principality in what is now Niger State, Nigeria. The emirate was established as the Abuja Emirate during the 19th century, located just north of the site of the present-day federal capital city named ...

. Gwagwalada was created on 15 October 1984. Its official population figure of 158,618 people at the 2006 census. The relocation of the seat of government from Lagos to Abuja in 1992 and the recent demolition of illegal structures within the Federal City Center brought a massive influx of people into the area being one of the fastest growing urban centers in the Federal Capital Territory. The population of the area has grown to over 1,000,000 people. Gwagwalada is one of the five local government areas of the

, together with

Abaji Abaji is a Local government areas of Nigeria, local government area in the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, Abuja. The Abaji Area Council is the area council farthest from the city center and occupies app ...

Kuje Kuje is a Local government areas of Nigeria, local government area in the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria. It has an area of 1,644 km2 and a population of 97,367 at the ct 2006 census. The postal c ...

Bwari Bwari is a Local government areas of Nigeria, local government area in the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria. The original inhabitants of the town are the Gbagyi speaking people. The paramount ruler is the ...

, and

Kwali Kwali is a Local government areas of Nigeria, local government area in the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria. It has an area of 1,206 km and a population of 85,837 at the 2006 census. The postal code ...

; the Federal Capital Territory also includes the city of

Abuja Abuja (; , ) is the capital city of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, strategically situated at the geographic midpoint of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory (FCT). As the seat of the Federal G ...

. Gwagwalada has an area of 1069.589 km².

Administrative structure

Gwagwalada is administered by an Executive Chairman elected through adult suffrage. The Council is composed of ten elected councilors representing the ten wards of the Council, namely: Zuba, Ibwa, Dobi Kutunku, Tunga Maje, Gwako, Paikonkore, Ikwa, Quarters & Central The

postal code A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world as a postcode, post code, PIN or ZIP Code) is a series of letters or numerical digit, digits or both, sometimes including spaces or punctuation, inclu ...

of the area is 902101. The Chairman of the Gwagwalada is Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Giri Gwagwalada is where the mini campus of the

University of Abuja The University of Abuja or Yakubu Gowon University is a federal university located in Abuja, Nigeria. It was established in January 1988 (under Decree No. 110 of 1992 as amended) as a dual-mode university with the mandate to run conventional and ...

is located.

School For The Gifted School For The Gifted is a secondary school located in Gwagwalada, Abuja Abuja (; , ) is the capital city of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, strategically situated at the geographic midpoint of the country within the Federal Capital Territ ...

is also located in the area.

Climate

The rainy season in Gwagwalada Local Government Area is oppressive and cloudy, while the dry season is humid and partially cloudy. The area has year-round heat. The average annual temperature fluctuates between 63 °F and 95 °F; it is rarely lower or higher than 57 °F or 102 °F. Due in part to the oppressive and overcast wet season as well as the humid and partially cloudy dry season, the temperature rarely varies.

Average Temperature

Drainage system around Gwagwalada UATH road blocked by refuse

Drainage leading to the canal exposed to refuse dump

The average daily maximum temperature during the 2.7-month hot season, which runs from January 25 to April 14, is above 92 °F. With an average high temperature of 94 °F and low temperature of 73 °F, March is the hottest month of the year in Gwagwalada. The average daily high temperature during the 3.3-month cool season, which runs from June 24 to October 1, is below 85 °F. December is the coldest month of the year in Gwagwalada, with an average high temperature of 90 °F and low temperature of 64 °F.

References

External links

Official Website
{{LGAs and communities of Federal Capital Territory Local Government Areas in the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria) Populated places in the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)