Abuja

Abuja is the capital of Nigeria. Since most Nigerian government agencies are now headquartered in Abuja and most other countries' embassies have been relocated from Lagos to Abuja, it is a surprisingly expensive city.

Introduction

Abuja is very beautiful. One of few purpose-built city's 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.

Travel to Abuja

Travel by plane to Abuja

• Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport IATA Flight Code: ABV 9.006806,7.263194 Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport - Abuja Airport Iwelumo-1 - International Flights to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport are offered by several airlines, notably, Lufthansa, KLM-Airline and British Airways. If arriving from the US, Delta Air Lines has a direct flight from New York JFK. Many visitors fly through connecting Flights from Lagos.While the industry is being overhauled and aviation safety is being upgraded, only few local airlines are reliable: AeroContractors, Arik Air and Chanchangi. Arik Air has embarked on an ambitious programme to add several new jetliners, including the new Boeing 787 dreamliner, to its fleet. From the airport, you are best advised to take the official Green Cab. Board the cab with only people you know. Uber operates here as well. The light rail line, when change opened in July 2023, connects the airport to the downtown at the Abuja Metro station. You can travel to Abuja by bus from major city's like Lagos, Benin, Kano and Port Harcourt. Reliable services include: ABC Transport (with air-conditioned luxurious bus rides), Ekene Dili Chukwu, Chisco Transport (CTN) and Young Shall Grow. The preferred bus service would be ABC transport. Take only day trip buses from Lagos or Kano. A few buses have been attacked by robbers. If you're unfamiliar with the nation, do not take a bus without an escort. Buses allow you to appreciate the terrain and the towns and city's and the subtle changes in these and culture as you drive towards the capital either from the South or the North.

Travel by train to Abuja

Nigeria Railway Corporation has completed an inter-city line between Abuja and Kaduna, where you can connect with the rest of the Nigerian rail system. Trains arrive and depart from Idu Station GPS 9.046277,7.342018 which is about 15 kilometers west of the downtown. As of 2022 and there are four daily departures in each direction.

Getting around

GPS 9.070|7.502

• Hotel De Bently N. Okonjo Iweala Way, Utako Abuja. Its a nice place to stay
• Reiz Continental Hotel Plot 779, Cadastral zone AO, Central Area. Tel. +234-9-4619110. Similar to Rockview in terms of standard, but with better service. Has swimmingpool too and free Minibar with alcohol removed (non alchololic)
• Immaculate ☎ +234 7098211224 Plot 111 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II opposite Cubana Bar, near Diamond Bank. Modern hotel with nice-size rooms and suites. Noisy on weekends because of night club next door and rooms above kitchen are noisy all the time. Lacks social space like bar/terrace but thit is good because less prostitutes than in larger hotels. Basic gym and small swimmingpool area. Restaurant ok. Reasonable prices and well-located.Decent hotels in Abuja tend to cost above US$200 per day.
• Hawthorn Suites Abuja 9.034087,7.496034 ☎ +234 9 460 3900 Rates from about ₦43,000 Service is good and the hotel is beautiful. Part of the Wyndham Group. Five star. Food is very good.
• Transcorp-Hilton 9.074483,7.495024 ☎ +234 708 060 3000 Part of the Hilton Group and upholds a good standard. Five star. Located at 1 Aguiyi Ironsi, Maitama Abuja. Rates from about ₦50,000. Good for weekend lounging by the swimmingpool (₦2000 entry for non-residents of the hotel) at least.
• Sheraton Abuja 9.063877,7.484277 ☎ +234 9 461 2000 Not up to the standard of other Sheraton hotels, still a good experience with nice food.

Stay Safe

Abuja tends to be a sharp contrast against the background of the rest of Nigeria. While vehicle 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 city's on the continent. 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 vehicle 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. 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 ₦30,000) 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 be around ₦500 for trips within the city. Cab rides to the airport are significantly higher. Negotiate a fare before you enter a cab. There have been many reports of fraudulent use of credit card details almost instantly after people have used their cards to pay hotel deposits, even in the very superior Muslim friendly lodgings. Copyright 2015 - 2024. All Rights reserved by eHalal Group Co., Ltd.
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