Garki, is a popular residential and commercial district in Phase 1 of Abuja, which is the city’s main business and administrative district. Just like Wuse, Garki is divided into two – Garki 1 and Garki 2, which is further divided into sections called “Area”. These “Areas” are numbered from 1 to 11.
Area 1 houses most Hotels and some Government establishments while Area 2 is mainly residential with some shopping activities, Several banks and other commercial offices are located along Moshood Abiola Way in Area 7. Areal 11 houses many government institutions like Radio house, NTA corporate headquarters, Federal Capital Development Authority, Office of the Minister of the Federal Capital and many more.
Getting Around Garki
Garki shares its borders with the Central Area to the north, Asokoro to the northeast, Guzape to the southeast, Gudu to the southwest, and Durumi to the west. Major roads, including Ahmadu Bello Way, Tafawa Balewa Way, Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, and Murtala Mohammed Expressway, ensure easy access within and beyond the district.
Property and Housing
Garki has been in existence since the creation of Abuja, hence, you’ll find a mix of old and new real estate developments, which is one of the main appeal of the area. . Other contributing factors to the district’s appeal includes its excellent infrastructure, good road network and a wide range of social activities. Like most parts of Abuja , rent isn’t cheap. But, it is still relatively affordable compared to other places like Maitama or Asokoro. Here, you can get a 2 bedroom flat around Area 1 for 1.3 million naira per year. You can get a 3 bedroom flat in Garki for sale, for as low as 28 million naira
Healthcare
Garki Hospital at Area 8 is one of the most popular hospitals in the district. Others include Alliance Hospital at Area 11, Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital at Ahmadu Bello Way, Hillshore Clinic at Lord Lugard Street, Angelic Care Hospital and Maternity , Bio-Royal Hospital & Maternity, Mercy Health Care Hospital ,CBN clinic among others .
Schools
Private Schools in the area include St. Aloysius Primary School, Judys Preparatory school, Deo Gratias international school, Regina Pacis college, Mountain ridge school among otheres. There’s also the Government secondary school Garki which is run by the FCT secondary education board.
Shopping
There are various shopping options in Garki. The Garki Modern market and Garki International Market are the major markets in the district. There are also supermarkets like AP at Area 11, Payfair at Area 2 , Amrks , Harmony Easy world and many small shops around the whole district.
Recreation and Entertainment
While Garki is mostly seen as an administrative zone on weekdays, the area transforms into an entertainment zone on weeknights and weekends.
For outdoor fun, Area 8 recreational park is the perfect spot to unwind with family and friends, there’s also the Emerald park in Area 3 known for its serene garden and wide range of recreational activities, Airwaves garden has a small pitch for football with a perfect environment for outdoor activities, there’s also the 7th option park and garden among others
For those looking to experience the nightlife, there are several options available, including On Point Lounge, which also doubles as a club on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Lifestyle Garden, Havana Lounge, Space Lounge, Jazz Bar, and many others.
Last Gate Restaurant and Bush Bar offer a range of affordable local and foreign dishes and drinks on their menu with games , indoor and outdoor seating areas, Flaming Pan Restaurant specializes in BBQ dishes with a variety of sauces and side options. If you’re a fan of Nigerian soup from the East and South-South regions of the country, Jenivick is the place to be.Other notable restaurants in the area include Biobak Kitchen, Drumstix, Doosh Garden Restaurant, and Emmy Kitchen.