Few kilometers away from Abuja is Piwoyi, a community in the FCT.Piwoyi struggles with poor infrastructure, weak public services, and rising living costs, even as luxury estates surround it.
Roads:
Residents, alongside a private estate, recently patched up a collapsed access road, but the main market road is still unsafe, with open drains and exposed food items that pose health risks. The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) says road repairs contracted for over ₦642 million were delayed by a workers’ strike but will soon resume.
Education:
With approval for a senior secondary school, locals had only a week to provide classrooms, forcing them to use rundown blocks as temporary learning spaces. Authorities say communities must take ownership, noting many others were denied approval.
Healthcare:
Piwoyi’s only health center, built in 2002, has just four staff and a few volunteers. Lacking power supplies, waste-management tools, and enough space to admit more than two patient at a time, the facility struggles to meet even basic needs.
Housing:
Despite the hardships, rents are soaring, with one bedroom flats now costing between ₦150,000 and ₦1 million.
For residents, life in Piwoyi is a constant test of resilience. As Abuja grows, they wonder whether their community will finally receive attention or be left to fend for itself.
