Abuja is a vibrant cosmopolitan city that has many things going for it. Currently, the city is expanding rapidly and with good reason – opportunity. Abuja offers you opportunity anywhere you look, be it employment, business or lifestyle.
Abuja has something to offer all – good weather (generally hot with a rainy season), green spaces, high-end restaurants, luxury hotels, designer shops, large malls, cinemas and a colorful nightlife to name but a few.
Furthermore there is a big expat community in Abuja, from a variety of different nations. So if you are looking for more of a “western” lifestyle you’ll find it in Abuja. If you’re one who prefers a “local” life, then there’s also something for you in Abuja.
• Moving to Abuja
Moving to Abuja can be stressful at times, especially if you are completely new to the city. This is particularly true for foreign nationals or expats coming to Nigeria for the first time. For those have already visited the city, living in Abuja is a totally different experience from just visiting.
The good news is, as long as you aware of a few things and make adequate preparations and plans you will have a wonderful time living in Abuja and exploring the city.
• Deciding on location of residence
Firstly, you should bear it in mind that there are really beautiful houses in Abuja and this is where the common pidgin line, “soup wey sweet, na money kill am” comes in. In essence, the major determinant of this is the amount of resources you have financially.
Most civil servants for instance live in the suburb. Places like gwagwalada, kubwa, suleja etc.
The reason isn’t far-fetched. It is because houses in those areas are relatively cheap. You can get houses for as low as #250,000 for a bedroom, #750 and above for a two-bedroom apartment and 1million naira and above for a 3-bedroom apartment.
Consequently, these workers do not enjoy basic amenities like good roads, electricity, high level of insecurity.
Of course, it’s not the same in eyebrow areas. There’s a notable difference as you would get a 1-bedroom apartment for nothing less than a million naira. For a 2-bedroom apartment, then you should prepare for 1.5 million and above. A 3-bedroom is usually around 2million naira or more.
However, all of these specifically depend on the actual location.
• Quick tip;
It isn’t advisable to relocate to Abuja if you do not have a stable source of income as the cost of living is comparatively high in most areas.
It is expected that the government provides low-cost housing for low income earners but until then, you should prioritize housing when planning to move to Abuja.
• Options
One of the readily available options is that of mortgage banks. There are mortgage banks who offer mortgage loans.
You can also consider squatting at someone’s place, be it a relative, friend or an acquaintance that you can trust.
In conclusion, Abuja is a really beautiful place to be, and would seem even more beautiful provided you can afford the luxury. Hope you enjoy your stay!
