Choosing an ideal City to Settle Down (Jephtha's Experience)

 

Several cities of choice come to mind when young people finally decide to make that dramatic exeunt from their parent’s homes and dictates; Abuja, Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Calabar. These five topping the charts most of the time because of exotic tales heard from older folks who have work and residential experiences amongst others, stories that have over time fueled the decision to go give things a try. 

We all know however those hearsays are proven right or wrong when one gets to the destination. Being born and raised in Port Harcourt city, schooled in Enugu, served (NYSC) in Calabar, and currently residing in Lagos state, I have a fair collection of comparisons to share, they may differ on basis of locations, political era, and a plethora of reasons, but they are valid. 

 

Availability of Electricity: Nowhere in all these states have shocked a regular Nigerian like with constant electricity like Santa Maria Estate, Ikot Efa, Calabar, and Karimu Ikotun Estate, Yaba, Lagos. Here, blackouts are the anomaly. Weird right? It is worthy of note that these places are nowhere close to the Government House, and sometimes, the government is not to blame but scrupulous individuals benefitting from public funds. Electricity in Port-Harcourt is rationed like prison food. It is ridiculous that a neighboring street could have power this minute, the next minute the power is cut and the neighboring street is powered and you can hear the jubilation from your living room. One would think that prepaid meters would be a good idea to help up their power distribution to maximize gains, but they seem to be hell-bound with the case of epileptic power supply. 

 

Prices of Food: If the stomach alone is to be considered, nobody would be residing in Port-Harcourt. Inflation thrives in their market such that they set the pace in the market of neighboring states. Lagos follows closely after, competing with Calabar in the game of entrepreneurial pick-pockets. So, one stands better chances of surviving on a 100k/month paying job in Calabar, than Abuja (if they already have an apartment or home where they live). Lagos may be fair if one considers living on the mainland where prices are fairly flexible, living on the island on that budget would be like driving a Lamborghini on full sports mode on Nigerian Federal roads. Port-Harcourt would have you in constant hunger at the end of the month. 

 

Cost of Renting an Apartment: This factor is largely dependent on where in the city you intend to let. Highbrow areas, suburbs, or the absolute ghetto. The rent cost in Calabar is fairer than in the other cities, although houses are scarce. The cost of letting a self-con apartment in highbrow areas like Federal or State housing estates etc. could range from 200k to 350k. and letting a room or a self-con could be as low as 80k to 170k. Housing in Port Harcourt and Lagos are similar in prices. Self-con apartments range between 250k to 500k, depending on the location. These apartments could be no bigger than shoe-boxes sometimes. Apartments in Abuja are the godfather in pricing. One would think the owners intend to build another estate with the rent. Self-con apartments alone could hit 700k depending on the location. So, if you have your mind on Abuja, and you have no secured accommodation or means to get yours immediately, I strongly advise you to reconsider. 

 

Security: Nowhere is safe in Nigeria. While we pretend that God has our best interests, we’d pick our state insecurities with a toothpick. If you are overly security conscious, here are a few things to note before choosing cities. Abuja is otherwise safe, save for recent rumors that Boko-haram has set up camps and flags in villages like Kaure, Alawa, and Magami. Inhabitants proceed with extreme caution. If you are a low-income earner, you may be residing in these areas because they are likely places with affordable rents. In other words, it would be you at the mercy of the Boko-men. Calabar would seem the serene place next to heaven, right? Wrong. The fear of ‘skolombo’ boys and girls, and Calabar south after 8 pm is the beginning of wisdom. And as one cannot be completely careful by choosing to reside in Calabar Municipality on basis of safety and comfort, there are cases where people have either been robbed, kidnapped, or maimed at spots in the municipality, the major safety measure to be in your house in the dark. Fishes are to the ocean what cultists are to Port-Harcourt. They are at every corner and every street. Out of ten boys on the street, nine are cultists and one has a neighbor or a brother who is. And when the cultists clash with the police, or with a rival cult, it rains bullets. In the surrounding houses are sleep-deprived men, women, and children, with racing heartbeats, lights switched off, lying on the floor or under the bed ears covered, praying the night to pass away. These fights always occur in the suburbs. Not in the highbrow areas and not in the absolute ghetto (the Port-Harcourt police know where their rights end). 

 

Entertainment: If you are a cruiser, Lagos and Abuja should be at the top of your list. They have an assortment of enjoyment outlets to spend that hard-earned money of yours; better for you if you are a ‘yahoo boy/runs girl’. You have casinos, parks, bowling halls and cinemas, malls, rooftop arenas and lounges, beaches (even if Abuja residents cannot relate to the term ‘beach’ as they only have Jabi lake, a little semi-stagnant water body that is no bigger than that in Port-Harcourt pleasure park. Port Harcourt’s idea of entertainment drags the ground, you go clubbing only to get kicked out at 4 am, chased by hoodlums, or picked up by the police if you don’t end up in a fight. The fact that children seeking good time have to travel with their parents to Governor Wike’s Pleasure Park, the only park in the whole city is ridiculous. We would rather consider Calabar and the nighttime lives of Marian road and Attekong. When the lights turn red and things occur. 

 

Road Network: Abuja’s road network is a standard for all to copy. The expanse, the smoothness, the interlinks, and coordination. Some states like Ebonyi are taking the right steps to achieve similar results. Governor Ayade is still working on Calabar roads, and Governor Wike is obsessed with overhead bridges. 

 

Having shared my opinions on certain factors to consider when planning to make that move, I hope they guide you on what City you can best endure.