Getting
accommodation in Abuja is no joke; if you want to live in Asokoro because of
its exclusivity and high brow status, you’ll discover that unless you have very
deep pockets, you cannot even rent an apartment let alone own a house. Rents
start from N4, 000, 000 (four million naira) for a two bedroom flat and that is
not also talking about the few expensive shops around where you may spend some
people’s annual salaries on a single spree. Like Asokoro, living in Maitama is
a big deal. Diplomats, Ministers, government big shots, former and serving
Governors and their families, Senators etc reside there. If you can cough out
N2, 500 000 (two million, five hundred thousand naira) for a two bedroom flat
for 12 months then you are welcome to live in Maitama. Remember you’d also be
required to shoulder some other bills like security, water supply, power,
sanitation and the likes, running into some more millions. Wuse II is home to
Abuja’s most expensive stores, restaurants, hotels, clubs and other high flying
places where the big spenders in town love to frequent. Although more of a
commercial settlement, living here is as expensive as living in Maitama
District. (more after the cut)
Gwarimpa
accommodates West Africa’s largest Estate; though a fair alternative to Maitama
and Wuse II for upper/middle class, houses here are as expensive as between N1,
200 000 (one million, two hundred thousand naira) and N2, 000, 000 (two million
naira) for a two bedroom flat annual rental fee. Living outside the city’s
highbrow areas do not guarantee escape from the culture of profligacy
associated with living in Abuja. Housing in places like Kubwa, Lugbe, Nyanya,
Zuba, Kuje, etc costs between N500,000 (five hundred thousand) and N1, 000 000
(one million naira) for a two bedroom flat as annual rental charges, excluding
payment for security, welfare, power and others.
Alternatively, what would have
been a less expensive option for the city’s residents in owning a house, has
opened another drain pipe through which intending house owners are milked of
their hard-earned resources. Building a house in an estate is still not any
less expensive. Apart from spending huge amount of money in putting up the structure(s),
you are also required to pay huge sums of money called “development levy”
before you are allowed to move into your completed house. The levy which also
runs into millions of naira is one amongst other fees you will be required to
pay either monthly or annually. Land acquisition in this city is not a poor
man’s venture. When I was told by a land agent that a parcel of land in a
valley for sale at Utako was at a cost of N320, 000 000 (three hundred and
twenty million naira) in 2012, I thought it was the height until one of
Nigeria’s Billionaires who owns a most desired edifice in Maitama, fondly
called Abuja Most Beautiful Mansion, stated that he purchased the parcel of
land on which the mansion sits in 2005 at a cost of N1, 000, 000, 000 (one billion
naira). Each time I see unused pieces of lands littered all over the city
centre, I wonder if I save every single kobo from my salary for the next one
hundred years, if maybe I would be able to acquire one to my name.
To be
continued...
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