Nigeria - West Africa - page 689

NORTHERN NIGERIA
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Abuja
POP 2.5 MILLION
Nigeria's made-to-measure capital, Abuja was founded during the boom years of the 1970s.
After the divisive Biafran war, the decision was made to move the capital from Lagos to
the ethnically neutral centre of the country. Clean, quiet and with a good electricity supply,
sometimes Abuja hardly feels like Nigeria at all. There's not much to do, but it's a good
place to catch your breath and do some visa shopping.
Abuja tends to empty at weekends, with people leaving for more exciting destinations,
so many hotels offer discounts for Friday and Saturday nights.
Good budget options include African Safari Hotel ( 09 234 1881; Plot 11, Benue Cres; r from
N3000-7000; ) , which has Area 1 Shopping Centre nearby (good for street food), Brow-
elf Hotel on Lagos Cres, and Dannic Hotel (which has a great restaurant).
For something more upscale, The Nordic Villa ( 0703 682 9922; http://thenordicvilla.com/ ; No 52,
Mike Akhigbe Way; r from N19000) is a modern Scandinavian-style guesthouse with helpful staff, a
calm atmosphere and good internet access.
The main draw at Smi Msira Restaurant (Moshood Abiola Way; dishes from N700) is being able to sit
out in the pleasant leafy surroundings - something of a genuine beer garden.
For a splurge, hit the many restaurants at the Hilton and Sheraton hotels.
The airport is 40km west of Abuja (N3500 by taxi). Flights depart hourly for Lagos with
several airlines (N54,000, one hour). There are also daily flights to Kano and Port Har-
court, as well as flights several times a week to Ibadan, Calabar and Maiduguri.
Jabi Motor Park (also called Utoka) is the main terminus for Abuja. Transport goes to all
points from here; sample minibus fares include Kano (N1000, four hours), Jos (N800, three
hours), Ibadan (N1500, eight hours) and Lagos (N2600, 10 hours).
Okadas have been banned in Abuja. Instead, there are plentiful green taxis (around N200
a drop).