Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital Territory prides itself as one of the most planned city in Africa.
Due to its administrative tag in the country, it plays the role of not just an administrative, but also an accommodating host to the President and commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, alongside other top government officials and Big business Men.
With all this in perspective, accommodation and survival for an average or low-income earner in a City of this nature sounds like a farce. But with the influx of people into this city some for business, others for Job hunting and the rest for an utopian opportunity, has led to a sprouting population growth which has necessitated the upshoot of satellite towns such as Karu Urban Area, Suleja, Gwagwalada, Lugbe, Kuje and smaller settlements to which the planned city is sprawling with cheap and fairly comfortable Housing.
African Housing News, brings to your knowledge the existence of this unofficial metropolitan area of Abuja which host a population of well over three million people; which include: Karu Urban Area, Kubwa, Kuje, Lugbe, amongst others.
Karu Urban Area
The Karu Urban area shares boundary between Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In central, it is located in Central Nigeria. It has an estimated population of 2 million people. Karu is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the world, with a growth rate of 40 percent recorded annually. From west to east, the urban area includes towns like Kurunduma, New Nyanya, Mararaba, New Karu, Ado, Masaka and newer, fast-growing towns such as One Man Village.
Getting a flat is Karu is relatively affordable compared to other areas in Abuja. An apartment in Abuja is a win-win equation. Transportation to other parts is affordable to the average class Nigerian.
Kubwa
Resident found mainly at Kubwa are civil servants, businessmen, and women, commercial motorcycle riders, artisans, and entrepreneurs infested. It is a residential district in Bwari. It is one of the major suburbs within the metropolitan areas of Abuja.
Various businesses ranging from supermarkets, shops, general markets (such as Kubwa Market, site 2-phase 1 Market, etc.) engaged by community members dominate the environment.
It is highly dominated by middle-class people. You can get almost everything you need in this area in the market and surrounding areas. It is also relatively easy to access other parts of Abuja through this area. An apartment in Kubwa is definitely not a bad idea.
Lugbe
Lugbe is one of the popular suburban settlements in Abuja. It is in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). It is largely residential and densely populated. Lugbe is about 17 minutes drive from the Central Business District of Abuja and 13 minutes drive to the Abuja Airport. It is along the airport road. Lugbe is divided into five districts namely Lugbe south, Lugbe north, Lugbe central, Lugbe west and Lugbe east. This makes it easily accessible for working class people.
Lugbe’s proximity to the city centre and also to the Abuja airport has brought it into the limelight and attracted significant development to the area. The area is developing very fast and is a viable area to invest in real estate. It is infested by Corpers who cannot afford rent apartments in the creme la creme areas in Abuja.
However, one may experience heavy traffic in Lugbe due to the airport road around. Notwithstanding Lugbe is a good is a good place to live.
Kuje
Kuje is one of the few localities to be advanced in social media with a few community magazine one of which is called Kuje Reflection, where you can read local Kuje news. Another is Konfam which released its maiden edition in May 2016, centered on Kuje as a whole, its culture, values and the people of Kuje in general. Konfam magazine is aimed at bringing Kuje to the limelight.
Kuje is a busy market town with a range of roadside stores selling pharmaceuticals, provisions, building materials, ironmongery, tools, phone cards, music CDs.
A peculiar future of Kuje is a colorful market held every 4 days with stalls selling fruit, vegetables, very fresh meat, other provisions, household goods, fabric, shoes, clothing, smoked fish and posters displaying European footballers pictured alongside their houses, wives, and cars.
Kuje is seeing a rapid expansion in house building because of its proximity to Abuja and because of the removal of informal settlements along the airport road. Renting an apartment in Kuje will save a lot of money for low or average income earners.
Gwagwalada
This is another location of easy comfort and accommodation either in rent or direct home purchase. However, it is a suburban location and host community for the the City’s only Federal Versity; the University of Abuja and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Therefore, apart from the natives, direct and indirect employees and even employers in the prominent national institutions, find shelter in this location.
Apo Auto Village
Popularly known as “Apo Mechanic”, with vicinity spanning over three square kilometres, Apo auto village reportedly houses the best technical hands to provide solutions to any faulty vehicle and shops to source for genuine new or used spare parts to replace any faulty part of any vehicle. Interestingly, the village is a microcosm of the entity called Nigeria. As there are Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas and there are every other ethnic nationalities of the country. The village provides a potpourri of choice of the ethnic nationality that vehicle owners can patronize.
Comically speaking, the village is a mini Nigeria, those who are conversant with the place refer to it in different names, just as it means different things to various people. For some, the Apo auto mechanic village is a haven for criminals. For others, it is simply the Sodom and Gomorrah of the FCT, as there are no dull moment in the village. It predominantly occupied by artisans, traders and the likes.
Galadimawa
Another suburban town in the federal capital, Galadimawa is a developing district in Abuja phase 3. It is one of the most central neighborhoods in outer Abuja. The area is positioned adjacent to a prominent Industrial district which houses a number of key institutions. While infrastructure here is basic and the road network is developing, Galadimawa is strategically located near many of Abuja’s biggest housing estates.
A benefit of being adjacent to the Lokogoma Expressway is the access to numerous commercial, social and educational establishments. Here you can do everything from shopping and dining to playing sports, without needing to go into Abuja’s more inner neighborhoods.
Nearby places of interest include African University of Science and Technology, Baze University, Flex-Hub Grills and C-Palms Lounge.
Galadimawa neighbors Games Village (Kaura) to the north, Duboyi to the north east, Lokogoma to the east. Gwarinpa and Life Camp lie to the north west.
The Galadimawa roundabout is a key junction in the outer Abuja area. It connects Ring Road 2 to a thruway that provides a route into the Central Area. Journeys take approximately 20 minutes. Land and houses in Galadimawa and its neighborhood are affordable and in line with other phase 3 districts.
Zuba
Zuba is a community in Gwagwalada Local Government Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. It is located in the border of Abuja central city and shares the same boundary Madalla with Niger State. Other than being the gateway to Abuja, Zuba is also on a primary highway that connects to Kaduna-Kano as well Kogi State, to major cities of the south. As a border community, houses and lands here are relatively cheap and affordable. The community are very lovely people to be with.
