Abuja

Understand

thumb|The National Assembly of Nigeria Abuja is very beautiful. One of few purpose-built capital cities in the world planned and built from scratch, it has an excellent road network, a beautiful rolling terrain and modern Nigerian architecture. However, power is often erratic.

It is part of the Federal Capital Territory and one of the six local area councils, formally known as the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). It is surrounded by the other councils which include Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Bwari, and Abaji. The majority of government institutions headquarters and offices are located in Abuja, mostly in Garki and the Central Business District.

The National Assembly, which the legislative arms of the government, is located in Maitama.

Abuja is one of the world's fastest-growing cities. Its Metropolitan Area had a population of 4,025,000 as of 2022.

Get around

Car or taxi is the main mode of getting around Abuja: public transport is limited. However, the Abuja Light Rail provides service mainly on the west side of the city, and provides connections between the city, rail station and the airport.

Abuja has a few strict driving laws that are enforced by different bodies of the government. The prominent road traffic and driving control enforcement bodies include VIO, FRSC, the Police. Seat belts are required of the driver and front seat passenger. The vehicle can be impounded and not released until the fine is paid. It will be helpful to have your papers updated as to avoid getting into trouble. Drivers don't typically observe lanes within the city, and often attempt to squeeze in what might seem to be dangerously close to your vehicle. In some cases they may drive on the sidewalks. However these happen mostly where there are no law enforcement officers present. Observation of traffic laws and traffic lights by drivers is higher in the city than in any other part of the country. Occasionally, drivers from other parts of the country that are unfamiliar with the driving culture in the city try to beat traffic lights. If you're driving, keep an eye out for other motorists, especially at intersections, who may try to beat the traffic lights. Occasionally, traffic lights stop working during outages and road marshals are deployed to critical intersections.

See

thumb|300px|Abuja National Mosque thumb|Zuma Rock

Abuja is a beautiful city. The tourist attractions are:

Do

thumb|Jabi boat club located within Jabi lake

Buy

thumb|Ceddi Plaza Mall There is some interesting artwork all over Abuja. Wood carvings, paintings and leatherwork. Everything is available in surrounding countries quite a bit cheaper, but if you are here you might as well buy it here. Art & Craft village (across the road from Sheraton Hotel) Fashion : Jaybecks Fabric Store and Bridals, for fabrics shopping and haute couture design pieces +234 908 146 6711. Fish Market : There is a market dedicated for just fish called fish market , easily found on google maps. It is located along Karmo road coming from Jabi and heading to Zuba. You can buy thrift items Like clothes, shoes, bags, crafts, etc. from Karmo Market, easily found on Google Maps as well.

Eat

Food prices in Abuja are high, especially for Western food. There are, however, many good restaurants in Abuja that are worth the money. Of course, whether you live in Abuja or are just visiting, there are times when you are willing to pay a little extra for the simple fact that there are few to no alternatives.

Drink

Drinks are available all over Abuja and are very overpriced. Average US$20 for some mixed drinks, US$5-9 for a local beer. Buy beer from the Market and you will save a lot of money. The major hotels have bars and restaurants. Watch out for the call girls, if you ignore them, they get really offended. If you are not interested, just say so and have a short conversation, then they will leave you alone.

British Village requires a membership to enter and is popular during different sporting events, especially during soccer games and rugby. Jake's Club is in Silverbird Galleria, Central Business District.

Stay safe

Abuja tends to be a sharp contrast against the background of the rest of Nigeria. While car hijackings and armed robbery are high in Lagos, and kidnapping of foreign oil workers is prevalent in the Niger delta, Abuja, in sharp contrast, is one of the safest metropolitan cities on the continent. However, as the economic situation degrades, the safety tends to degrade as well.

General security measures like elsewhere in the world should be observed. Like anywhere else in the world, it's always a good idea to have company when exploring unfamiliar places. If you're driving, observe simple measures like keeping your car door locked when parked to avoid opportunistic crime. Armed robbery at gun point is the most prevalent form of crime. A calm disposition and full cooperation with robbers is the best line of action in the unlikely event that you are the victim of a robbery. At night, avoid to walk and drive or shut your windows and don't stop at red lights.

Robbers tend to become violent when victims try to pull tricks. Contact your embassy in Abuja and the police if you are robbed. Occasional pick pockets target mobile phones and wallets as well. Do not carry large amounts of cash. Usually, US$250 cash (or ₦400,000) would more than suffice for impulsive purchases and other daily costs.

When moving in Abuja, as a foreign visitor, you are best advised to use the official Green Cabs. There's a remote chance that privately operated unofficial cabs could be traps. Cab fares would b…