Central Bank of Nigeria 39th Ordinary Meeting of the Association of African Central Bank (AACB), August 15th-19th, 2016, Abuja, Nigeria INFORMATION NOTE FOR DELEGATES Dear Delegates, Welcome to Nigeria and to the 39th Ordinary Meeting of the Association of African Central Bank (AACB), hosted by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Please find below, some general information on Abuja and its environment which you may find useful. 1. GENERAL INFORMATION ON NIGERIA Nigeria is a country located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west; Chad and Cameroon in the east; and Niger Republic in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. The three major ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. The country comprises of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Nigeria has a population of about 150 million. Abuja is the Administrative Capital while Lagos is the commercial capital and is situated in the south western zone. Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria is located in the North Central part of Nigeria, and is bounded by Kaduna State on the north, on south-east with Nassarawa State, on the south-west by Kogi State and on the west by Niger state. At the 2006 census, the city of Abuja had a population of 776,298, making it one of the top ten most populous cities in Nigeria. The population of the sub-urban towns around Abuja is well over three million, which would make it the fourth largest urban area in Nigeria only surpassed by Lagos, Kano and Ibadan. One can hardly keep away tourists who love the peaceful and secured environment which are the characteristic of the town. Abuja possess a rich and diverse cultural heritage that finds expression in colorful cloths, exotic masquerades, sophisticated music and dances. 1 2. ABUJA WEATHER Using the Köppen climate classification, Abuja features a tropical wet and dry climate. The FCT experiences three weather conditions annually; a warm and humid rainy season, a blistering dry season, a brief interlude of harmattan occasioned by the northeast trade winds, that are often associated with dust haze, intensified coldness and dryness. The rainy season begins from April and ends in October, when daytime temperatures range from 28 °C (82.4 °F) to 30 °C (86.0 °F) and nighttime lows hover around 22 °C (71.6 °F) to 23 °C (73.4 °F). In the dry season, daytime temperatures can soar as high as 40 °C (104.0 °F) and nighttime temperatures can dip to 12 °C (53.6 °F). Rainfall in the FCT reflects the territory's location on the windward side of the Jos Plateau and the zone of rising air masses with the city receiving frequent rainfall during the rainy season from March to November every year. 3. TOURIST SIGHTS IN ABUJA Abuja is home to several parks and green areas with the largest one being Millennium Park. Millennium Park was designed by world renowned architect Manfredi Nicoletti and was officially opened by the United Kingdom's Elizabeth II in December 2003. Another open area park is located in Lifecamp Gwarimpa; near the residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The park is located on a slightly raised hilltop which contains sport facilities like Basketball and Badminton courts. The city is served by the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, while Zuma Rock lies nearby. Abuja is a haven for tourists with so many historical sites and places. It is a beautiful city with both natural and man-made tourist attractions, these include; Aso Rock - a large 400 metre mountain. The Presidential villa, WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF THE President of Nigeria derives its name of Aso Rock Villa from the rock. The National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre, Presidential Complex, National Assembly, Supreme Court, NNPC Towers - are all located in the Central Business District of Abuja while the ECOWAS Secretariat- a monumental structure along Yakubu Gowon Crescent is situated in Asokoro district of Abuja. See appendix 1 for pictures of some important places. 2 4. RESTAURANTS, CAFES AND SHOPPING MALLS There are several good restaurants, cafes, shopping places among others. I. Restaurants and Driving Time from Transcorp Hilton Restaurants Address Driving Time from Transcorp Hilton 1 Chinese/Oriental Restaurants Chop Sticks 56, Mississippi Street, Maitama 9 Minutes Woks and Koi Second Floor ,Silverbird Entertainment Centre, Central 8 Minutes Business District, Central Sawadee Wuse II, 45, Kumasi Cresent, off Aminu Kano Cresent, 7 Minutes Opposite FERMA Office Wakkis Plot 171 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja. Nigeria. 6 Minutes 2 Continental Restaurants Dunes 44 aguiyi ironsi way. 5 Minutes Al Basha (Lebanese) 11 Cassandra St, off Usuma St, off Ghana St, Maitama 5 Minutes Chez Victor (French) 20, Ganges Street, Ministers Hill, Maitama 5 Minutes Vanilla 28 Pope John Paul 11 Street, Maitama 5 Minutes 3 Indigenous Restaurants Jevinik Restaurant 494, Bangui Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, 6 Minutes Wuse II Nkoyo 1 ,Bathurust Street, K City Plaza, Wuse II 6 Minutes Bio Bak Plot 1274 ,Nkwere Crescent, Amac, Garki 5 Minutes 4 Fast Food Kentucky Shop 29A, Grand Tower Mall. Gudu District, Gudu 6 Minutes Drumsticks 32 ,Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, 6 Minutes Southern Fried Chicken Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Nitel Junction, Zone 2, 6Minutes Wuse 5 Cafes Salamander Café 5 Bujumbura St, Abuja 6 Minutes Tullip 75 ,Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II. 6 Minutes French Cafe Bamboo 3 Salt Lake Street Off Gana Street Maitama. 5 Minutes Dunes Cafe 44 aguiyi ironsi way. 5 Minutes 3 II. Shopping Malls/Supermarkets Names Address Time from Transcorp Hilton Cedi Plaza Mall 264 Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business 6 Minutes District Shoprite Mall Silverbird Entertainment Center, by Musa 4 Minutes Yar’Adua Center Silverbird Mall Silverbird Entertainment Centre, Central Business 5 Minutes District, Central, Central Business District Sahad Stores 1512 ,Uka Street, Garki II. 5 Minutes Park and Shop Supermarket Guru Plaza, 740 ,Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse, 6 Minutes Dunes Mall and Supermarket N44 aguiyi ironsi way. 5 Minutes Grand Square Supermarket Central Business District III. Night Life Names Address Distance from Transcorp Hilton Bamboo 3 Salt Lake Street Off Gana Street Maitama. 5 Minutes Cubana Lounge 130, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II. 6 Minutes Vanilla 28 Pope John Paul 11 Street, Maitama 5 Minutes IV. Markets Market Location Distance from Transcorp Hilton Wuse Market Zone 5, Wuse District 6 Minutes Garki Market Garki 11 District 9 Minutes Maitama Fruit Market Maitama 5 Minutes Art and Crafts Market Central Business District, behind the Silverbird Cinema 5 Minutes 4 5. HOTELS AU/UNECA recommended hotels for delegates. 1. Chelsea Hotel, Abuja: Plot 123 Mohd Buhari, Cadastral Zone, Central Area Abuja. Room Type Room Rate ($) Standard Room 293.00 Superior Room 347.00 Executive Room 364.00 Regal Room 396.00 Panoramic Room 443.00 Junior suite 504.00 Ambassadorial Suite 718.00 Presidential Suite 1,079.00 E-mail:[email protected] Tel:+234805388359 2. Reiz Continental Hotel, Plot 779 Cadastral Zone AO, Central Area, Garki, Abuja Room Type Room Rate ($) Standard 220 Deluxe 250 Executive 260 Penthouse 300 Continental Suite 350 Contact Tel: +2348037870506; +2348037042118;E-mail: [email protected] 3. Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama District, Tel:+2348039013333; Email: http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/nigeria/transcorp-hilton-abuja- Room Type Room Rate ($) King Royal Suite 350 King Hilton Plus 420 Twin Executive Room 470 King Executive Plus 580 5 4. Sheraton Hotel: Ladi Kwali Way, Maitama, Tel:+234(09)4612000. Email: http://www.sheratonabuja.com a. Main Hotel Tariff Single Room Double Room Effective 1st Jan, 2012 Rate (N) Deposit (N) Rate (N) Deposit (N) Classic King 55,700.00 70,000.00 55,200.00 80,000.00 Superior Room 66,600.00 90,000.00 69,100.00 95,000.00 Junior Suite 92,900.00 110,000.00 95,400.00 120,000.00 Executive Suite 121,000.00 140,000.00 123,500.00 145,000.00 Diplomatic Suite (2 Bedrooms) 170,500.00 190,000.00 170,500.00 200,000.00 Ambassador Suite (2 Bedrooms) 180,000.00 220,000.00 180,000.00 220,000.00 Presidential Suite (2 Bedrooms) 220,500.00 250,000.00 220,500.00 260,000.00 b. Club Level Tariff Single Room Double Room Rate (N) Deposit (N) Rate (N) Deposit (N) Club King 76,500.00 95,000.00 79,000.00 100,000.00 Club Junior Suite 108,400.00 130,000.00 110,900.00 140,000.00 Club Executive Suite 132,000.00 150,000.00 134,500.00 160,000.00 Club Diplomatic Suite 185,000.00 220,000.00 185,000.00 230,000.00 Club Ambassador Suite 215,000.00 255,000.00 215,000.00 265,000.00 Club Presidential Suite 260,000.00 310,000.00 260,000.00 320,000.00 *All Rates are exclusive of 10% Service Charge and 5% Tax * These rates are subject to change without notice * Rates are payable in foreign currency at prevailing exchange rate in the hotel. 6 5. Valencia Hotel Contact Address: No 44, Blantyre Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja. Tel. 09-4618300-330; Email: [email protected] Room Type Deposit Per Night ($) Standard Room 200 Superior 220 Valencia Grande 250 Valencia Bus-Suite 300 Valencia Executive Suite 310 I bedroom Luxury Apartment 350 I bedroom Extra Luxury Apartment 370 I bedroom Super Luxury Apartment 420 2 bedroom Luxury Apartment 510 3 bedroom Luxury Apartment 560 6. Protea Hotel Asokoro Contact Address: Bola Ige Close, Muhammadu Ribadu Street, Off Shehu Shagari Shagari Street, Asokoro, Abuja.