> The capital of Nigeria used to be Lagos, but what is it today?And the answer: Abuja. Photo credit: Patrick Diallo.During the 1980s, the city of Abuja was built fromscratch and, in 1991, it replaced Lagos as Nigeria's capital. The land whereAbuja sits is more centrally located, and seen as a more neutral region forNigeria's many ethnic and religious groups.While nation capitals are often located on the ground chosen by their foundingfathers or on a site of traditional significance, Nigerians elected a new path:create and centralize a capital that will better serve their needs as a nation.From 1980-on, Nigerians worked to create a new capital in Abuja, building thecity from a plot of land. The site was chosen for its centrality, low populationdensity, and ideal climate. As the most populous city in sub-Saharan Africa, Lagos is known for incrediblecongestion. Further, Lagos is dominated by one primary ethnic group called TheYoruba, making it difficult to lay claims to neutrality and leading tointer-group conflict. Ethnic group alignment is a significant factor for unrestin Nigeria – in fact, between 1967 and 1970, Nigeria was wracked by the Biafranwar, when the Igbos sought to secede from Nigeria.Meanwhile, Abuja is designed to handle heavy traffic (as it was built with widerstreets), and its neutral location was designed to accommodate most all ethnicgroups. It is also far safer in the center of the nation – port capitals areoften more subject to sieges by sea from neighboring countries. Today, Abuja isfondly referred to as the "Center of Unity."Check out this site[https://theculturetrip.com/africa/nigeria/articles/eating-out-in-abuja-the-10-best-cultural-restaurants/] for a taste of cuisine in Nigeria’s capital city.