Abakpa Nike Enugu: Seven years ago, Phyno, a top Igbo rapper released a video he shot in the middle of one of the biggest slum communities in the heart of Enugu, this was in a song he entitled, OBIAGU.
In that video, he sang about the uniqueness of people who reside in OBIAGU as well as their resilience, struggles, and tenacity.
It was a hit single off his PLAY MAKER album dedicated to the people of OBIAGU community in Enugu and its environs.
While OBIAGU is not the primary focus of this mini-documentary the mention of it calls to heart one of the most dreaded and densely populated neighborhoods in Enugu that has produced some of the most brilliant minds of our generation today including Phyno himself. And I am talking about ABAKPA NIKE popularly known as ABAKPA NTIKE.
While ENigeria Newspaper cannot confirm at this time if Abakpa is bigger than Obiagu, what I know is that compared to those living in opulent neighborhoods like Independence Layout, GRA, Centenary City, New Heaven, Trans Ekulu, and others, Abakpa is indeed a slum. In fact, it is said to be the largest and most densely populated urban slum community, also known as ghetto in Nigeria.
Abakpa is located about 8 kilometers west of Akanu Ibiam International Airport and 7 kilometers north of Enugu city center. It is a commercial settlement near Highway 343, with a few large commercial markets and farmer’s shops. The number of residents has been recently increasing since some small industrial companies began operation in the locality.
Due to the dense population in Abakpa, building developers are taking advantage and acquiring old buildings, and demolishing and erecting new ones for commercial purposes.
The springing up of new buildings in some parts of Abakpa has given some neighborhoods a facelift, and this is an indication of possible urbanization of the ghetto community within the coming few years ahead.
In areas like Umuchigbo and others which are considered to be the heart of Abakpa, you will commonly find very old buildings without potable water supply as well as public yards popularly referred to in Nigeria as face-me-I-face-you.
Rents in some of the old buildings without borehole water go between N200 – N250,000 per annum. While those with water go as much as N300 – N400,000.
In Abakpa one of the most developed neighbourhoods is Iji-Nike where we have the palace of the traditional ruler, Igwe Nnaji.
Roads in Iji-Nike are far better than in other places, and rent is a bit more expensive as well.
For instance, I am told that rent around this area goes for as high as N600 – N700,000 for a three-bedroom apartment in a new building with a portable water supply.
Abakpa is home to 82 Division of the Nigerian Army cantonment in Enugu, located around the popular Abakpa junction, which is considered to be one of the popular landmarks in the city.
When ENigeria Newspaper reports that Abakpa is currently witnessing massive construction going on within the area. For instance, Governor Peter Mbah is constructing a massive bus terminal like you have in Oshodi. It is believed that this will help to eliminate the disorderliness in the area.
Popular neighborhoods inside Abakpa include:
Ugbo Owa, Housing, Nike Lake Road, Ugbene, Nike Road, Achakpa, Ugboye, Obinagu Road, Ogwuagor which is considered to be one of the most dreaded among all the neighborhoods in Abakpa, and many others.
Although there is only one Abakpa, residents hold strongly that some parts of the community are known to house some of the most notorious gang leaders and criminals in the vicinity.
To others, living and surviving in Abakpa demands that you embody the strength and boldness of a bad boy, even if you are not one.
The dense population of Abakpa has its advantages and disadvantages as well.
Major foodstuff markets in Abakpa include:
Afia Abakpa,
Afia 4 and Mammy market
Source: Walker Diary
