Abuja Brief History;

Africa’s first planned city, Abuja is the federal capital of Nigeria, the heart of its political life and the epicenter of the numerous efforts to develop the country.

With its tree lined streets and grand avenues, it is one of the most prominent and modern cities in Africa. Want to know the History of Abuja and how it was chosen as Nigeria’s capital?


Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria since December 12, 1991, when it replaced the previous capital Lagos. It was created in 1976, but it was planned and mainly built throughout the 1980s, on the grass-covered Chukuku Hills.

Abuja is located in the center of Nigeria in the Federal Capital Territory and guess what, the Nigerian government structure and politics is not complete without mentioning Abuja.

Who Named Abuja – The History of Abuja
The name “Abuja” was derived from Abu Ja, a brother to Muhammadu Makau, the last Hausa ruler of Zaria.

Makau had left Zaria after being defeated by the Fulani and settled in the area now known as Abuja. In 1825 his brother Abu Ja succeeded him as the 62nd King of Zaria.

The full name of Abu Ja was Abubakar (shortened to “Abu”) and the name Ja was given to him because he was light in complexion (in Hausa “Ja” means red or fair).

He became known as “Abu Ja”, “Abu the fair one” (other sources claim that the name “Ja” was derived from the last name of his father which was “Jatau”). Abu Ja then built a new capital for his Kingdom and called it “Abuja.”

The Federal Capital Territory – How Abuja Was Created
Abuja was mainly built in the 1980s and it officially became Nigeria’s capital on December 12, 1991, replacing Lagos.

The Abuja Federal Capital Territory, while smaller than other states within Nigeria, is two and half times the size of Lagos city, the former capital.

This territory was formed with the express purpose of supporting Abuja city, encircling it within a womb of nature. Abuja has an Area size of 713km2

The site for the new capital was chosen because of its central location (viewed as neutral both ethnically and religiously, where culture and religion meet), easy accessibility, pleasant climate, low population density, and the availability of land for future expansion.

Not only was a city designed, but an entire environment. Part of the provisions of the Master Plan is the development of adequate recreational and Green areas within the city. Abuja is surrounded by abundant hills, highlands, savanna grassland, and tropical rain forests.

The master plan of Abuja ad the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was developed by international planning associates (IPA), a consortium made up of three American firms: Planning Research Corporation; Wallace, Roberts and Todd; and Archisystems, a division of the Hughes Organization.

The master plan included a regional site selection ad master plan for the new and detailed design of the Central Area, which accommodates the national government center, cultural institutions, and the Central Business districts.

Outside The central Area, residential mini-cities with populations of 150,000 to 250,000 are organized around local business and the employment centres.

More detailed design of the central areas of the capital, particularly it monumental core, was accomplished by Kenzo Tange, a renowned Japanese architect, along with his team of city planners at Kenzo Tange and Urtec Company.

Places of Interest In Abuja City;

Abuja National Mosque: The national mosque of the country declared a national monument belonging to all Nigerians. Its outstanding golden dome and minarets dominate Abuja’s skyline.

National Christian Centre: The symbol of unity of Christendom in Nigeria. The centre’s magnificent edifice was designed by an Italian firm.

Millennium Park: Abuja’s most popular and largest green area is the Millennium Park. Designed by world renowned architect Manfredi Nicoletti, it was officially inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003.

National Stadium: Built in 2003 and this ultra-modern complex has a seated capacity of 60,000. It is used by the Nigerian National Football Team.

How Abuja Was Chosen as Nigeria’s Capital
The problems associated with the capital being in Lagos, such as population pressures, political and ethnic divisions, led to the search for a new capital in 1976. Abuja was selected from among 33 possible sites.

Physically located in the centre of the country and viewed as neutral both ethnically and religiously, it is where culture and religion meet.

The criteria used for selection included: centrality, healthy, climate, land availability and use, water supply, multi-access possibilities, security, existence of resources, drainage, good soil, physical planning convenience and ethic accord.

The Emir of Abuja at the time, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, was asked to meet with his Emirate Council to approve contributing four of the five districts to Abuja to become the new capital.

The council was divided as some districts considered it too much of a sacrifice; but at the end, they approved the request from the Federal Government.

Thus, the Abuja in Niger State contributed 80% of the land of the territory, Plateau State (now Nassarawa State) contributed 16% of the South east territory and Kwara State (Now Kogi State) contributed about 4% of the south-west territory.

The vehicle license plate for the FCT reads “Centre of Unity. This is a constant reminder that Abuja was selected in the hope of creating a united central city.

Abuja Districts
According to the 1979 master plan, Abuja’s territory has to be developed in four phases on an area of about 250 square kilometres, and each phase has to be further sub-divided into districts.

The phase 1 development has almost been completed and includes the Central Business District (the three Arms Zone Presidency, National Assembly and Supreme Court), the Maitama, Wuse, Garki and Asokoro, residential and business districts.

There are also 5 districts in Phase 2, and some of them have works at various stages of completion. They are Kado, Durumi, Gudu, Utako (which infrastructural facilities have been completed) and Jabi.

Phase 3 districts are Mabuchi, Katampe, Wuye and Gwarimpa. There are also 5 suburban districts, which are Nyanya, Karu, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, and Jikwoyi.

Along the Airport Road there are clusters of satellite settlements, namely Lugbe, Chika, Kuchigworo and Pyakassa.

Other satellite settlements are Idu (the main industrial zone), Mpape, Karimu, Gwagwa, Dei-Dei (hosting the international Livestock market and also International Building materials market).

Construction service companies and enterprises continues at a fast pace in Abuja and new places open weekly, Phase 2, currently under development, involves the integration of the surrounding Katampe, Mabushi, Utako, Wuye, Durumi, Gudu, Jabbi, Duste and Gaduwa areas into the city.

Phase 3 and 4 are also under development, however, there are works at various stages of implementation in Karmo, and Idu districts (Phase 3), and the Gwarimpa Districts, where many of the construction companies “Life Camps” are located, has already been developed.

Abuja Population
Abuja is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, with a population that already is climbing to 2.5 million since its development in the 1980s.

During the early 2000s, the city’s population grew by almost 140%. Today, most areas of the city still see annual growth of 35%, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

Because of the city’s reputation for being welcoming to all groups, no matter their ethnicity or religion, the population is only expected to continue to grow for Nigeria’s capital city.

History of Abuja (Summary), Weather and Climate
The history of Abuja is not complete without talking about it’s wonderful weather and climate. The FCT experiences three weather conditions annually. This includes a warm, humid rainy season and a blistering dry season.

In between the two, there is a brief interlude of harmattan occasioned by the northeast trade wind, with the main feature of dust haze, intensified coldness and dryness.

The rainy season begins from April and ends in October, when daytime temperatures reach 28 °C (82.4 °F) to 30 °C (86.0 °F) and nighttime lows hover around 22 °C (71.6 °F) to 23 °C (73.4 °F). In the dry season, daytime temperatures can soar as high as 40 °C (104.0 °F) and nighttime temperatures can dip to 12 °C (53.6 °F).

Even the chilliest nights can be followed by daytime temperatures well above 30 °C (86.0 °F). The high altitudes and undulating terrain of the FCT act as a moderating influence on the weather of the territory.

Rainfall in the FCT reflects the territory’s location on the windward side of the Jos Plateau and the zone of rising air masses. The annual total rainfall is in the range of 1100 mm to 1600 mm.

About myself

I relocated to Abuja about 15yrs ago. And I have worked with all sincerity and uprightness. The land of Abuja has been good to me and my family.

I am a driver with over ten years of clean record driving. Also, a certified Auto Diagnostics Engineer with an experience in maintenance of vehicle.

Really hard working and trustworthy with skills that will make your visitation to Abuja a positive memorial.

Available as a tour guide and Driver in Abuja. Call 07042994249

Where can a group go for an afternoon out in abuja apart from millennium Park, Jabi lake, us an dam and gurara falls?

Tojued:
Where can a group go for an afternoon out in abuja apart from millennium Park, Jabi lake, us an dam and gurara falls?

So sorry for the late response.

There are others nice spots your team can visit during daytime in Abuja. The following are available among others.

IBB Golf Course
The course has 18 beautiful holes (long front 9 and challenging back 9). The ambience of this golf course is spectacular. There’s great food combined with affordable drinks and you could sit on the terrace for hours with friends without any disturbances. It’s also a great place to meet people. There are two tennis courts, great caddies and golf pros, all in a really nice atmosphere.

Chase Restaurant Terrace, Abuja (near Sheraton)
The Chase restaurant, currently managed by Joseph Dogo, is a fantastic choice for all with delectable cuisine and impeccable customer service. Their Sunday brunch (Lebanese and Chinese) is arguably the best Abuja has to offer. There’s a bakery (Cherry’s bakery) which has the city’s best pastries, tucked in at a corner of the restaurant.

Visit Pedam Lake
Pedam Lake lies behind the presidential Villa, sprawling towards Nassarawa state. For lovers of great adventure, this is your go-to spot. It is not well developed for tourism, but it is a great place to unwind. Pedam Lake is one of the few places many people living in Abuja haven’t discovered yet and it is surprisingly massive.

Visit Aso Rock
The Aso Rock is a 400-metre (1,300 ft) monolith. It is the largest and tallest rock in the city. It is Abuja’s most noticeable feature as it can be seen from many areas of the city.

The Hilton pool, gym, and Fulani Bar
The Hilton hotel is one of the largest in Africa with about 670 rooms. It has both a standard pool and kiddies pool. The hotel has a gym, squash courts, tennis, and volleyball. The Fulani bar has passable food and poolside service, a festive atmosphere and is perfect to visit on Sunday evenings.

Go, Bowling,
The Dome (on airport road)guarantees an exceptional experience through bowling. With pool tables, video games, several restaurants and bowling alleys, this place is a nice time out and a great way to do something unusual and exciting. Plus, there isn’t any quite like it in Africa!

Join the Hash House Harriers Run/Walk
The Hash House Harriers are an international group of non-competitive social clubs. They are often the best place to meet people in foreign places. The Hash is basically a run or fast walk, to strategic points throughout Abuja. It could be a run on the roads, bushes, or estates. Not to worry, there’s usually enough food and drinks after the walk which is paid for by sponsors.

Hit the Club
Nightlife is amazing with top clubs such as The Bank at Debras hotel in Wuse II, crave Cubana and Aramis. say Hello to enjoyable, spacious and safe club spaces with amazing DJs.

Take a picture beside the city gate
How else will you prove to your friends that you’ve visited the metropolitan city of Abuja than to take a picture beside the mighty city gate?
Café hunting
Salamander Cafe, Abuja

Abuja has lots of nice Cafés like Salamander Café, Café de vie, Cube Café, Café 24 and several others. It would be a nice idea to go round and check them out. You’ll be surprised you just might find your favourite place on earth.

Visit Zimbabwe
Believe it or not, there’s a nice outdoor spot about 35km from Abuja city called ‘ Zimbabwe’. It has affordable food and drinks, fish, barbecued beef, palm wine, chicken, basically, a host of local cuisines, spicy traditional and bushmeat delicacies. If you plan to treat yourself to a nice cool evening, go to Zimbabwe!

Silverbird Cinemas
If you are a movie enthusiast who loves the big screen accompanied with popcorn and a drink, then Silverbird Cinemas at the Jabi lake mall is the place to go. It’s a fun place to hang out with friends on weekends and even weekdays after work.

Call your City Guide on 07042994249

How much do you charge just for a day, may come around with a friend.

ligopedro:
How much do you charge just for a day, may come around with a friend.

Dear Ligopedro,
Appreciate your kind iniquiry. Please note, I am offering this service due to my passion to assist humanity in my little way. Feel free to give me your offer. So sure you and your team will tell others about my services. I am also a driver of over ten years clean driving experience in Abuja. My no is 07042994249

Call 07042994249

As a golf enthusiast, this might be of value to you:

Ten Invaluable Golf Tips
Bad golf habits are difficult to break. Here's a set of the ten most common faults seen on the golf course, and tips on how to work on overcoming them and perfecting your golf game:
Take enough club to access your target.
Amateurs consistently come up short using their approach shots to the green. Choosing a club {that will get the ball to the green is important, so make sure that you have a club that you could swing at 80 per cent and still arrive at the hole. Save your energy; you have a long life before you!
If you're able to putt the ball, then putt it!
Don't always make use of a lofted club across the greens. Leave this type of shot to the players who are able to handle them, like Phil Mickelson. Good advice is to employ a club that can hit this shot with the best trajectory possible.
Keep your head fairly steady.
You're going to maneuver your head only a little during the swing, especially with the longer clubs. But moving your head an excessive amount can result in a variety of serious swing flaws that make the game extremely tough to play. Have someone watch you to see whether you move your head, or you could watch yourself in the mirror when you take practice swings.
Keep your sense of humor.
If you try everything and they still don’t work out, you should still keep your sense of humor and still survive, or at the very least, you could die laughing.
Bet only that which you are able to afford to lose.
Never bet on your own golf game that which you can't afford to lose. One idea is to always to bet everything in your pocket with the exception of $10, and that is for the gas home.
Keep the ball low in the wind.
Once the wind starts to pick up, play the ball back in your stance, put both your hands in front of the ball, and keep them ahead whenever you make contact. So, remember to keep the ball as low as you are able to, and you can manage your game a lot more efficiently. You most likely won't lose as many golf balls, either.
Take some golf lessons.
If you truly wish to have fun playing this game, you should start out with a couple of lessons to get you on the right track and, needless to say, read Golf For Dummies in its entirety. It's amazing what you are able to do with a clear concept in your mind of steps to make a golf swing.
Do not give lessons to your spouse.
This may sound funny, but of course, there is a reason why. Giving golf lessons to your partner can be a federal offence. Don't do it! Doing this can only just result in a disaster. Invest some money in lessons. Get good instruction and reap the benefits, and this is your peace of mind.
Always tee it up at the tee boxes.
Whenever it is legal (that is, in the teeing area), you should tee the ball up. This game is more enjoyable once the ball is in the air.
Never blame yourself for a bad shot.
Give yourself a break! Golfing is hard enough without blaming everything on yourself. Find creative methods to blame something different, such as the magnetic force field from alien spacecraft. Let your mind go and observe how crazy your excuses can be. Keep your sanity!

And you can always check this site out for more: htpps://www.fontation.com/reviews/best-golf-irons-for-mid-handicappers/

Available for your service in Abuja.

Abuja has over 50 districts!

There is more information on Abuja districts here. From Maitama to Wuse to Gwarinpa plenty for you to read up on.

https://www.villaafrika.com/abuja-districts/

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