Abuja (Nigeria) > Reviews (2)

ABJ as the city is fondly called is the new and improved “Lagos “of Nigeria. “Lagos” in the sense that it is the centre of all the hustle and bustle of Nigeria, in other words thee heart beat of the country.

However things are slowly changing as the not so new capital of Nigeria is becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Located in the centre of the country’s Middle Belt, Abuja is covered mainly with savannah grassland but there are patches of rainforest. There are two seasons, the hot and dry harmattan (November to March) and the rainy season (April to October). The weather is a bit peculiar as there have been hailstorms and extremities of temperatures within the same day; boiling hot in the day and very cold in the night almost like a desert. The weather can change at the drop of a hat.

The city is clean and not as densely populated as Lagos. There are streetlights and walking lights that function well. The roads are of good standard and the water is clean enough for drinking. In terms of housing, the government is constantly demolishing illegal buildings, so the houses on ground are generally of good quality. The electric and water supply is very good but not perfect, many houses have water tanks and generators.

Abuja has a very good selection of hotels; the famous NiconHilton and Sheraton are very good. I have slept in the Nicon Hilton and the room service was good as well as the food. The swimming pool is very big and there is a mini zoo within the grounds. I have eaten from lunch several times in Sheraton and there was a wide variety of Continental as well as African foods. These hotels are worth every naira you spend on them.

There are many plazas and new shopping malls constantly being built. Worthy of mention are Ceddi Plaza, Downtown Mall and Silverbird Galleria- which houses the famous Silverbird Cinema. You can get about everything and anything there. This is because the city is filled with a lot of embassies and international diplomats, so the market has to cater to their demands.

Talking about the market, Wuse Market is the popular market in Abuja. There are many open air stalls and you can buy both new and second-hand goods. Beware not all traders supply you with receipts so returning can be a problem. However you can bargain with the traders and ask for their last price. Compared to Lagos, Abuja is more expensive than Lagos which is relative because the standard of living is higher.

In terms of tourist attractions, Abj is not lacking. There is considerable infrastructure on ground from state of the art Central bank to the Abuja Stadium which has put a bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Having been to the stadium, I can say it is at par with its overseas counterparts. For sight seers there is Aso Rock, Zuma Rock, NNPC towers, Eagle Square and the Velodrome. For nature lovers, you have Gurara Falls, Strabag Hills, Usuma Dam, Usuma River, Jabi river, Abuja Love Garden, Millennium Park and IBB Golf Course to mention a few. There are lots of man made lakes and green areas around the city.

The city is famous for pottery and the Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre and Giri Pottery Centre would be good places to stop by if that is what floats your boat.

The entertainment scene is gradually picking up with more bars and clubs opening up. Many artistes and comedians come to host shows and events.

Crime rate is very low compared to Lagos and other parts of the country.

Last but not the least the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport is very good and many airlines now fly direct to Abuja. There are also connecting flight to different parts of the country that leave very regularly.