Venussbay Meets Exhibitors from WedExpo!

Despite the security challenges, members of the Abuja expatriate community create time to network and relax, writes Chinelo Onwualu

The cars start to arrive a little after 7pm. They range from jeeps with diplomatic plate numbers to nondescript Toyotas and Hondas. They have all arrived at the BNL compound in Jabi for a game of Ultimate Frisbee. The players come from all over the world: India, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

The game has no formal structure; players are roughly divided into three teams by the colour of their t-shirts and at the end of the game, a loose rotation of volunteers take charge of the equipment. The expatriate community in Abuja is a transient one and it is not surprising to find a large number of first-time players – many of whom may never come again. The atmosphere remains friendly.

As Mohammed Nabeel, an ICT specialist from Egypt explains, it is precisely this informal atmosphere that draws him to the games.

“The only activity before was going to the gym or a restaurant,” he said. “I was in Lagos for two years before coming here. Abuja is better because there’s less traffic, more green zones and good roads, but there’s fewer places to visit and activities to do.”

He is not alone in his sentiments. The city of Abuja has one of the highest concentrations of expatriates in the country. Most of the foreign embassies and diplomatic missions are located here and many international NGOs that work closely with the government have their headquarters here as well. However the nation’s recent security challenges have limited the range and mobility of many foreign workers. Both the US and UK governments have issued strict warnings to their citizens about movements and activities in the country and many organisations discourage their employees from unnecessary travel – even within the city.

“The security situation has closed the expat networks down a lot more,” said Jeremy Weate, a publisher and consultant from the United Kingdom. “Things aren’t as open as they were a few years ago.”

Still, there are a number of activities for expatriates as well as interested Nigerians in Abuja to enjoy. The Abuja Hash House Harriers is a fitness and social club that meets two Saturdays a month to hike through the gorgeous hillsides just outside the city. Part of a larger international network, this group has a much more formalised structure than most with a core membership and elected leaders. However, it is N1, 000 fee for the hike and N2, 000 for the dinner afterwards. For lovers of the dance, there are the free salsa classes at Ole Tapas restaurant in Durumi on Thursdays and salsa dancing at Casa Linda restaurant in Maitama every Friday.

If all that physical activity isn’t your thing, there is the Abuja Film Club which meets every other Sunday at the Polish Embassy in Maitama. A loose network of cinema enthusiasts, they watch and discuss classic movies from all over the world. For more contemporary fare, there is the Cine-Fridays at the French Cultural Centre in Wuse II, which showcases French and Francophone films for free.

A number of other activities are determined by nationality, language and culture. For instance, the Abuja Cricket Club is primarily made up of Indians, Pakistanis and South Africans for whom the game is much more culturally important. The Russian Speakers is open to anyone from any nationality as long they share a knowledge or interest in the language while The Thai Citizens Association is limited to expatriates from Thailand or those with a Thai background.

A popular activity for expats in the city has always been tourism. While longer trips – especially to sites in the north of the country – have been essentially discouraged, a few destinations closer to home, such as the Pottery Village in Bwari and Gurara Falls in nearby Niger State are still popular. However, many complain of poor maintenance of these tourist spots.

“I have been to a lot of different places: Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt,” said Shankar, an Indian IT consultant who has lived in the country for the last three years, “There are a lot of places to see, but the Nigerian government doesn’t do what it should.”

Because the expatriate community in Abuja tends to be very transitory – many expats work in the country on short-term contracts of no more than a few years – knowledge of most of these activities are spread through word of mouth, often via the recommendation of friends. Interested participants can find information about any of the activities mentioned through groups on Facebook, though many of them are closed to the public and require the recommendation of an established member to join.

Other great resources for activities include the blog Inside Track Abuja, which is run by Aracelli Aipoh a writer and long-time resident from the Philippines, and Internations.org a social media website for expatriates around the world. Abuja users can create Facebook-style profiles, add friends and visit the forums to chat and ask questions.

Living in a foreign country can be a lonely experience and many expats in Abuja are simply glad to find opportunities to meet new people – regardless of the activity. Nick Falco, an American development specialist, notes that while he is primarily a runner, he looks forward to the twice-weekly games of Ultimate Frisbee.

“It’s a nice mix of expats and Nigerians and a great way to keep active,” he said just before the game. “I’d forgotten how nice it is to play an actual sport.”