Greetings
Sannu
SAN-noo
'Hello' in Hausa, the lingua franca of northern Nigeria and widely used in Abuja alongside English.
Ina kwana?
ee-na KWA-na
'How did you sleep?' — the standard Hausa morning greeting. Reply 'Lafiya' (well).
Na gode
na GO-deh
'Thank you' in Hausa. Two words that go a long way in markets and with security staff.
Social
How far?
how FAR
The Nigerian Pidgin greeting, as universal here as in Lagos. Reply 'I dey'.
Daily life
Wuse 2 / Garki 2
WOO-say two
Abuja's districts are numbered and zoned rather than named, and addresses are given that way. Learning the numbering is how you navigate.
Aso Rock
AH-so rock
The granite monolith behind the Presidential Villa — and, by metonymy, the presidency itself. 'Aso Rock said' means the government said.
Keke
KEH-keh
The three-wheeled tricycle taxis. Common in the satellite towns and restricted on the main city arterials.
AEDC
ay-ee-dee-see
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, the DisCo for the whole FCT. Which band your feeder is on decides your electricity bill and your generator hours.
Food
Suya
SOO-ya
Skewered beef rubbed in yaji, a peanut and chilli spice mix, grilled over wood. Northern in origin and best from a roadside mai suya after dark.
Masa
MA-sa
Fermented rice cakes, fried in a dimpled pan and eaten with pepper sauce or soup. A northern breakfast staple you will not meet in Lagos.
Emergency
112
—
Nigeria's national emergency number, operated through the NCC's emergency communication centres in every state and the FCT.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.