Abuja - Post Report Question and Answers
What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
We live in a U.S. housing compound next to the school. There isn't a lot of storage but the commute to school can't be beat! It's only 10-15 min from the embassy by car as well. It's a great community. - Mar 2024
Housing on our compound is as good and modern as it can probably get in Abuja. The spacious, well appointed concrete houses have small back yards (some fully enclosed for dogs and/or toddlers). There is also a small playground, a tiny dog park (which is mostly used by the children as playground 2.0), a pool and a club house with a well-equipped gym. A giant wall with concertina wire and 24/7 security make it a safe place to live and a wonderful place for children to play outside (think America back in the '80s when it was safe for children to play in the streets with the neighbors' kids). The commute to the embassy depends on the time of the day and weather conditions. Between 20 minutes on a good day and 90 minutes on a bad (rainy) day. Traffic in general is nuts here. Road markings and traffic regulations seem optional. - Sep 2019
I'm only familiar with one compound. The apartments have been upgraded and while the entryway can cause your heart to sink at its gloom and general air of cement desolation, the actual units themselves are roomy and comfortable enough. The up side to the neighborhood is that it is attached to the American school so kids can just walk through a gate to school. Large central play areas and pools and clubhouse. Covered parking for some units and a very secure, gated enclosure, make this a safe place to live. That said, as contractors we don't have to live there and I'm quite happy about that, although I do envy their kitchens. The one in our accommodations is small and lacks counter space. Having done this for a long time, I can say that the above neighborhood the least desirable housing I've ever seen. On the up note, for Nigeria, I'm sure it's pretty great! - Feb 2019
US MGT section is working hard on getting housing improved. Route 66 is the largest compound and it is great for kids that go to AISA (right next door). Harvard is being renovated right now and they just brought on a new compound called Aspen (20 units). It is quite nice, but further away from the benefits of the city etc. Route 66 are apartments for singles / no kids and townhouses families. Aspen are all single family (all with kids), Harvard are duplexes. There are others spread around the city that are single family to apartments, but not as large of compounds. - Apr 2018
Housing consists of gated compounds, ranging from small apartments to large townhouses. Route 66 is the largest compound, and is directly next to AISA, the international school. Commute times to the embassy vary, though generally it takes 20-40 minutes door to door. Housing quality, including facilities/maintenance, is generally average to poor, and is a big morale issue for post. - Apr 2017
Housing for most expatriates can be comfortable, but in Abuja it is costly. Abuja's traffic is light compared to that in Lagos, with 20- to 30-minute commutes at times. Be aware that Nigerian drivers are apt to drive opposite to normal traffic patterns and on sidewalks. Living inside the ring road is expensive, so some housing is located in Jabi Lake, outside the city proper. Even there, commutes are reasonable. - Jun 2016
Housing is manageable, but not great. There are several compounds (of varying quality) in the USG housing pool. GSO works hard to improve the housing situation, but the landlord's market (where they sometimes double the rent just because their ego demands it) makes this an uphill battle. Most of the USG compounds have swimming pools, some have tennis courts, and a couple have gyms. One compound has a nice clubhouse operated by the employee association with food and draft beer. Construction quality is very poor: often, a structure is built, then they break the walls to install plumbing and electrical as an afterthought. The city's power infrastructure is also very poor, but USG housing (fortunately) has backup generators in place. You quickly grow numb to the multiple short power outages every day. That said, I've heard that new developers are coming into town trying to build US-spec housing, so there is hope. - Aug 2015
This is the African post that kills the myth about how good housing is in Africa. Prior to our arrival, 10 housing compounds (3-10 houses each or apartments) were closed for a lot of reasons. Security, rental cost, issues with landlords, repair costs, condition of housing, location. A mega compound has been built on the outskirts of Abuja. 66 housing units; 32 3 bd/2 bath (and WC) apartments (they say, but it more like 2 bd with a study) in two large block buildings and 34 4/5 bd and 3/4 bath townhouses. Known as RT. 66. This idea and housing is a work in process. It took a few years longer than planned to finish (and finish is a loose and relative term), several cost over-runs, communication break-downs between the Mission and OBO and contractors. We are the first generation of RT. 66 occupants and the units look like they have been lived in for years. There is always something that needs to be repaired, replaced, fixed. When it rains, the bathroom windows in the apartments leak, there have been several major water leaks in the units, caused because of poor workmanship. This is the first housing we have had, that did not have any kind of storage or covered parking. Our study is more of a storage room. The 2nd bedroom is that in name only, as it is also used for storage. We have had the bed removed to make more room. Besides, Abuja is not the place where you will get visitors. There is a "pantry" off the kitchen area. But, at first there was no shelving. Mission has now supplied wire racks for the panty. I have bought a few units for my own needs. RT. 66 is located next door the American International School in Abuja and several kids attend. (See comments below.) RT.66 is also next door to the Mission warehouse. There is a tennis court, basketball court, 2 dog runs (that get little to no use, as the dog owners use the common areas to walk their dogs and allow them to get outside for a few minutes before going back inside for several hours.) This is a popular compound for people with dogs, as there is more outside room than the other places. There is a workout room and a cafe that is open on the weekends. Cafe and workout rooms are managed by the Employee Association. There are two pools in the compound, one normal sized lap pool and the other is a smaller version at the other end of the compound. A lot of folks from the other compounds who don't have a pool, come here to swim. Power supply in Abuja is poor on its best day. Several times during the day and night, the compound loses city power and the compound has to turn on the generators. Then city power is back and generators are cut off. If the power is out for any length of time, there is no water in the units. After the power changes from city to generator and back, you will have to go around and re-set anything that is not plugged This is a constant routine. You will need surge protectors and a few UPS units. Commute times can be several minutes to 30 minutes plus. Depending on time of day and traffic.The only thing I can speak to, is that there are varied reports about AISA. Running the range from poor to ok. In the summer months, a lot of the parents take the kids out of Abuja, as there really is not a lot for them to do. Several folks have discussed sending their older kids to boarding schools in Europe or America - Jun 2015
When we came, we lived in decent apartment housing which was closed about 5 months into our tour. Then we were moved to a compound called 66 which has 66 units. We have had constant mold, torn out walls several times because of bad pipes, air-con poorly installed so all leak at one time or another. Cheap inadequate lighting. I can't say anything good about our "brand new housing." This is the worst housing we have had in Africa (actually anywhere). I would not reccomend this post to anyone if they have to live in 66. Some of the other places seem better but we're stuck in 66 and since there are 66 aprtments, it's hard to know if you will get this. Lots of kids around so its good for families and there are 2 pools and a small canteen open with limited food on weekends. It's about 20 minutes to work. - Nov 2014
Everything is on a compound. Because of several issues (security, access, landlord issues) 10 compounds have been closed and a new compound, named Route 66 with 66 units on compound - 3 bed apartment, 4-5 bed townhouses - has been opened. Some of the existing units are quite nice, considering they are not of the best construction or location. New compound - Route 66 is located next door to the American International School, has stand-alone servants quarters, basketball and tennis courts, weight room, two swimming pools (one large and one small), a cafe open on weekends for pizza, burger, drinks. But, Route 66 is a work in progress, lots of minor and some major issues need to be addressed and fixed. General thought is that at the end of the lease, all the problems will be fixed and the landlord will have a great place to rent out. Commute times vary from 5 minutes to 20 minutes when there is traffic. No one walks. - Aug 2014
For NGO staff: apartments on the local market are not up to U.S. standards and very expensive. Be sure you see it before sign a lease. For USG employees: housing is very expensive here so it's more modest than you might expect elsewhere in Africa. All housing is on compounds. No private yards. Limited amenities. Commutes vary with traffic but most are 15 to 20 minutes. - May 2014
This depends greatly on where you work. Housing in Abuja proper is extremely expensive (think Manhattan or London prices, aka $3,000 / month rent for a tiny / shabby apartment). The majority of my Nigerian colleagues commute from outside the city, from 60 minutes to 3 hours depending on traffic. That being said, if your housing is provided by a diplomatic mission, it tends to be large, cool, with plenty of storage, and on a guarded compound. As long as you're not driving at peak times, nothing in the city is more than 15-30 minutes away from anything else. Most expats live in Maitama, Wuse, or Asokoro. - May 2013
US Embassy housing is located mostly in Maitama and Wuse II. Commute times are generally very short; under 10 minutes. My experience with the housing was good, but, as with many posts, where you are assigned is a crapshoot. Many US Government families want to live in the Harvard compound, which is well set up for those with children. Other compounds are generally nice- spacious houses with pools, and in a couple of cases, tennis courts. - Jun 2009
We live on a lovely compound with a pool. For the most part I think embassy employees are satisfied. There are a few units they need to get rid of because they have continuous maintinances issues. Our house is probably one of the furthest from the Embassy and the school, and the commute it 15-20 minutes in the morning and 20-30 minutes at rush-hour in the afternoon. - Mar 2009
Traffic is not a problem in Abuja compared to other capital cities, so the commute time will be less than 15 minutes regardless of where you live. The housing compounds are varied and spread througout the city, and most are apartments and townhomes. I’ve heard complaints about a few compounds. Apparently, Seattle has very little space for parking and no pool. The other complaint is with Katsina Ala (spelling?) and Ancestor’s Court. - Sep 2008
Housing for embassy folks is in compounds -- either houses (duplex or free standing) or small apartment buildings. Non-Embassy who have to find your own -- it is a landlord's market. Super expensive, with landlords who just want the money -- make sure ALL repairs, changes, etc are done BEFORE you hand over the cash. Commute time is great -- 10-15 minutes for just about everyone. Abuja is NOT a big city. - Aug 2008
The U.S. housing pool consists of several gated and guarded compounds throughout the city. Most are either flats or townhomes, but some are houses. Most have a pool and two have tennis courts as well. Most of them are poorly built with shoddy workmanship and low grade materials. From what I hear, Nigeria has some of the smallest housing in Africa and many expats are rather disappointed in both the quality and size. - Jul 2008
