The Federal Capital of Nigeria, Abuja, is favourably situated in the middle of the country. Â Abuja replaced Lagos as the capital of Nigeria officially in 1991, it is one of the famous and important cities in Africa today. Abuja also happens to be the first planned capital city in Africa as it was built with the aim of making it the capital of Nigeria.
History has it that it that the plan to move the capital of Nigeria to Abuja was instigated by General Murtala Mohammed although the process materialized much later in President Ibrahim Badamose Babangida‘s regime. Abuja was chosen as the new capital of Nigeria because of the centrality and neutrality. This is especially because of the location especially in terms of religion, ethnicity and others.
A lot of people barely know so much about Abuja asides from the fact that it is the capital of Nigeria. There are quite a number of interesting and fun facts about Abuja. Most of which you certainly are oblivious of which will be shared in this article. However, for the purpose of clarity, here’s an overview of Abuja.
Contents
Abuja Nigeria
Abuja, as stated earlier is the capital of Nigeria. It is the city of power as it houses the military base, the House of Assembly, the Supreme Court and most importantly Aso Rock Presidential Villa. It also plays home to a good number of officialdoms in the country and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.
Abuja is Nigeria’s political seat and the city where all the decisions that run the country are made. There are lots of areas in Abuja, however, some popular ones include Wuse, Maitama, Garki, Gwarimpa, Jabi, Utako. The 2006 census revealed that Abuja is one of the most populous cities in Nigeria with a population of 770,000. The Capital city is one of the wealthiest cities in Africa.
Nestled within Abuja are popular landmarks such as Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Zuma Rock, Jabi Lake, Millenium Park, Abuja National Mosque, Magic Land Abuja and many more. Unlike busy cities like Lagos, Abuja offers serenity and an overall quiet neighbourhood.
Abuja experiences an influx of top politicians, foreign and local businessmen, movers and shakers as well as power brokers. Mostly in the city for business, political meetings or other corporate engagements. Living in Abuja means you wouldn’t have to worry about safety as the city is safe due to the high presence of security.
Safety in the capital of Nigeria is based on the fact that it is the seat of power and houses the presidency and the presidential complex.
Being the capital of Nigeria, there are lots of exciting things to do in Abuja as well as interesting facts that a good number of people do not know about. This article shares 5 things you didn’t know about the capital of Nigeria.
Abuja is a purpose-built capital city
Abuja is the first capital city in Africa that was built with the plan of making it the capital of the country, Nigeria. The plan for Abuja was developed by International Planning Associates (IPA). The syndicate was commissioned out of the need for a master plan for the Federal Capital of Nigeria. It was led by Wallace, Roberts, McHarg and Todd of Philadephia.Â
The area now known as Abuja was chosen mainly because of its neutrality (in terms of ethnicity). Also, as a result of the fact that Lagos was fast becoming too populated to be the capital city. The former settlers in Abuja were compensated and by law, the city belongs to no tribe, group or religion.
Abuja is home to the headquarters of many top companies and corporate bodies in Nigeria
As expected, the capital of Nigeria, Abuja houses lots of top company’s headquarters as well as corporate bodies and government parastatals in Nigeria. Some of which include The Economic Community of the West African States, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Nigerian Police Force (NPF) among others.
A good number of countries relocated their embassies to Abuja right after it was made the capital of Nigeria.
Abuja is a city with good roads
Abuja city is one of the cities in Nigeria that the government took time to plan and also develop. The capital city has experienced massive growth in terms of population growth, economic growth and infrastructures. The roads in Abuja match up to the roads in developed countries across the world. Residents of Abuja enjoy good and wide road across the city.
The cost of living in Abuja is high
For a city like Abuja, it is expected that the cost of living would be high. From the cost of transportation, prices of groceries and household items among others. For example, the cost of renting an apartment in Abuja is quite expensive even down to the smallest mini flat.
Compared to other places in Nigeria such as Lagos, Ibadan and some other places in Northern Nigeria, the standard of living in the capital of Nigeria can be quite expensive.
Abuja gets exciting during the weekend
Abuja is not only the centre of the Nigerian government and the capital city. It is also a fun and exciting city to live in. Contrary to popular belief, there is more to Abuja than meets the eyes. The city is haven with lots of hot spots and fun places. Just like other cities, Abuja has lots of fun and entertainment to offers, especially during the weekend.
There are several interesting spots in Abuja, from exotic hotels, fancy restaurants, pubs, clubs, and much more. Some admirable attractions in Abuja include Magicland Amusement Park, Jabi Lake Park, Cube Café, Gurara Falls, Eagle Square, Café 24, The Mediterranean Hotel.
If you are looking to explore Abuja soon, this article gives you a heads up on things you didn’t know about the capital city. However, if you have ever been to the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, kindly share your views with other PropertyPro.ng readers
