Despite the high cost of accommodation in Kubwa, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory, it is suddenly becoming densely overpopulated due to the rising cases of insecurity within neighboring towns in recent times.
The town described as one of the largest satellite towns in Africa has been known to be a major hub of economic activities in Nigeria’s capital city, it is relatively a home for all classes of people, civil servants, businessmen, traders, artisans and even the very low income earners. The reason for this is not far fetched from the fact that there are provisions to accommodate everyone’s budget in terms of rentage.
Although one may argue as has always been the case, that cost of houses in this town is becoming too expensive it is equally true that people with lesser sources of income would equally find a place befitting to them.
At such places like Byazhin, Chikakpere, and Across, there are affordable low cost houses to the point that a two bedroom flat can be rented for as much as 250, 000, while a self contained can be gotten for between 80000 – 150000. For those who cannot leave in the outskirt of this ever busy town, this is where the burden of heavy rent becomes an issue.
Major areas in Kubwa comprising Federal Housing, Village, phase1, phase 2, and 3 as well as new Maitama are places where the cost of accommodation is becoming too exorbitant and has always been on the increase. The Landlords in these areas have become seeming uncontrollable as everyone seems to be at liberty to fix and increase their rentage at will without recourse to any considerations whatsoever.
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At PW and Federal Housing for instance, a one bedroom flat goes as far as N400,000 per annum, a two bedroom accommodation is rented for about N 600,000 per annum while a three bedroom can be gotten for between N700,000 to N800,000. If one however feels like going for an ordinary self contained which includes just a room, toilet and a kitchen ensuit, then N150,000-250,000 should be budgeted.
Several concerns have been raised over times regarding the high costs of accommodation in these parts of Kubwa, but all pleas have fallen on deaf ears as there do not seem to be any known regulatory authority to call the landlords to other.
This has to some extents affected some tenants who were no longer able to meet up with the rent and many have been forced to relocate to the low breed areas mentioned earlier. At least Kubwa still provides succor for all and sundry not minding that residents themselves define class using the particular area one lives as yardstick.
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Notwithstanding the increasing costs of accommodation in this town , one might begin to wonder what is responsible for the daily influx of tenants. The truth is that Kubwa still has its advantages such as it’s proximity to town (Federal Secretariat, Wuse and Garki). There are basic amenities like partially steady electricity, pipe borne water, and good road networks. These perhaps can be summed as major reasons most civil servants prefer to stay here. It is hoped however that with time relevant authorities would begin to look inward with the objective of making houses in this part of Abuja cheap and affordable for all.
