Easy Living on Enugu’s Outskirts: The Affordable Costs Keeping Residents There

By Alphonsus Okoroigwe

Enugu, Nigeria – Residents of outlying communities such as Ugbo-Owa, Ugbo-Odogwu, Agu-Owa, and Tanker Park in Enugu metropolis say they prefer to live in their areas because of low rent and cheap foodstuffs, despite lacking basic amenities enjoyed inside the city.

“I live in one-room apartment here, and rent is okay. The fee depends on the kind of building you’re occupying. Here, people living in mud buildings mostly pay N2,500 monthly for a room. Those in mud buildings plastered with cement pay about N3,000 monthly for one room, while occupants of concrete-block buildings pay about N5,000,“ Sussie, a resident of Ugbo-Owa, said.

She explained that incoming tenants are usually charged for one year, after which they pay monthly or in bulk.

She found that foods prices her neighborhood are much lower than in the city.

“If you go to Ugbo-Owa market at Alaba Junction, a ‘penta’ of garri is between N900 and N1,000, a ‘penta’ of Abakaliki rice is about N5,000, and a bottle of palm oil is N1,500. This is better than the rates in areas such as Trans-Ekulu, where a ‘penta’ of garri sells for N1,500 and palm oil sells for either N2,200 or N2,300,” she said.

Chidubem, a foodstuffs seller at Ugbo-Odogwu market, said: “Here, we sell a bottle of palm oil for N1,500, small bucket of Abakaliki rice is N4,500, fufu is N100 a wrap, and small bucket of garri sells for N850 or N900.”

For some, relocation to the outskirts was compelled by rent hikes in the city.

Dozie, a farmer at Tanker Park, said: “We left our former location because the landlord increased the rent, making me and my family to relocate to this house. The rent here is affordable for our two rooms. It’s a concrete-block building and I paid N132,000. That’s N5,500 monthly for the two rooms.”

Chioma, a grocer and long-time resident of Agu-Owa, said: “A room in a mud building is N4,000 monthly, mud building plastered with cement is N5,000, and a room in a concrete-block building ranges from N6,000 to N8,000, depending on the landlord. It’s hard to relocate from this community due to the high cost of rent in the heart of the city.”

A driver, Alex, said:”I pay N180,000 annually for the two-bedroom flat we live in here in Ugbo-Odogwu, though the building is a bit old. The landlords in this area usually increase their rent after five or six years, and I think it’s the reason why most people prefer to stay here for as long as possible.”

Ifeanyi, a tricycle operator, said living at Ugbo-Owa is cost-friendly despite working inside the city.

Chibuzo, an estate agent, attributed the low cost of rent to infrastructure.

“The reason for low rent fees in these locations is obviously due to lack of basic amenities. People living in Ugbo-Odogwu don’t have potable water and good sewage system, as enjoyed in places like Trans-Ekulu, Independence Layout, New Haven, and other areas that are inside the city,” he said.