GALADIMAWA - THE CENTRAL SUBURB

There is everything good about Galadimawa Village (as it is popularly called). Okay, I know this name sounds funny too but lets just move on #wink. It is situated in Lokogoma District. It’s major landmark description point is the Galadimawa roundabout which feeds into Lokogoma (Sun City, Sunny Valle, Apo Mechanic Village etc), Area 1/Games village, Airport Road/Mbora district and Galadimawa village itself. Galadimawa is one of the Gbagyi villages in Abuja originally inhabited by the Gbagyi locals. It is one of the most strategically positioned satellite villages in Abuja, with just approximately 10 minutes’ drive to Area 1 and 35 minutes drive to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Int'l Airport. It’s the most central suburb as its very close to the heart of the town and you can access any part of town from this place in few minutes. As a bachelor, my hubby and his friend lived here for years and they always recount good memories living in this suburb. 

Galadimawa is among the few suburbs that enjoy a relatively steady supply of electricity. My hubby used to boast that they were on the same grid with The State House…could you just imagine…loool! There is no pipe borne water in the suburb but there are bore-holes at strategic positions and Mai Ruwa’s (Water vendors) available to supply water to your doorstep. Presently, most of the new houses springing up are going out of their way to sink boreholes. The roads or streets are not tarred, they are earth roads, but they are not bumpy, just okay and very motorable. From time to time, the roads are graded, this keeps them relatively smooth most of the time. There are no drainages but the inhabitants have devised alternative ways of managing the floods particularly during heaving falls.

The suburb shares boundary with two major estates in the district. Crime rate here is very low and as with most suburbs, there is a Police Post. In addition, there is a Police Patrol Van permanently stationed at the entrance and they patrol the suburb on routine basis day and night. There is also a Vigilantee Group that compliments the work of the Police,they mount guard from 11.30pm till dawn.  Apart from being a good residential area, it is also a very active commercial hub with nightlife.

There is almost nothing that cannot be found or gotten in Galadimawa, ranging from household/daily needs shops, to restaurants/bars, wine shops, confectioneries, viewing centres, electronics mart, spare parts shops, etc. Funny as it seems, one of the most delicious fried rice I tasted in any fast food, was in a new restaurant way back 2014.

Galadimawa has a government primary and a nearby govt secondary school, for parents who cannot afford private schools. There are also private schools in the area, in fact, it boasts of a private school called Harvard School…..looool. You need to visit this suburb to see for yourself. There is also a mini market, where one can easily get anything. At the entrance of the suburb, just by the roundabout, is a purpose-built government controlled motor park. Here, you can board taxis or buses to major parts of the town (save yourself the palava of “one chance”). Transportation inside the village is not a challenge, as there are commercial motorbikes that convey people in and out of the suburb…and at an affordable fee of  just N50. 

I would strongly recommend this neighbourhood for newlyweds and young urban professionals who work in town and have to get to the office very early. You really don’t have to wake up as early as 5am just to avoid traffic, also considering the fact that its major access road to Area 1 terminal is currently under expansion construction… drive through and see for yourself. This suburb is also very good for business. I have done business here….my dear, the market is here for your products and services. 

This suburb still remains my favourite, at least until I find another which beats the record…lool and I call it The Central Suburb!