Saturday 21 February 2015

BEST CITIES TO RETIRE IN NIGERIA- Odunze Reginald C



A retiree should not be spending his golden years worrying about bills, the major determinants of  the best cities to retire in Nigeria  is off course the cost of living but events of the recent situation has come to  place the security situation as a major determinant  when choosing retirement destinations in Nigeria. Other criteria include cost of accommodation, hospitality of the people and now recently religious tolerance.
Others include availability of natural resources, good weather and favorable climatic condition but also Strength of the job market. Retirees often tend return to the job market because their pension was not enough to carry them through their golden years, or some may have been involved in one relationship or the other that creates more avenue for expenditure.
But   a close observation indicates that the majority of the retirees wish to retire in the village because of the peace they desire and the low cost of living in those villages, but they often discover that the peace they desire  eludes them in the village, as they discover that politics, land tussle and other issues came up to scuttle  the desired peace during retirement.
But be as it may the best places to retire in Nigeria are as follows:


1 IBADAN
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Image credited to Techloy.com/cloudydesert.com

This commercial city that has been reputed as the largest city in West Africa, has affordable house, the best educational facilities , it has also a cheap transport system , welcome to Ibadan , and enjoy the hospital of the people, the buildings are being replace with modern facilities.


2  ILORIN



Image credited to punchng.com
The city of Ilorin has been reputed as the place that have a life of both world, a city ruled by the Gambari’s, a blend of northern culture and south western culture.  A city that has religious tolerance.  A place a serene and quiet lifestyle.Ilorin still remains one of the best place to live during retirement.

3 ABEOKUTA

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Image credit weather forcast.com
Abeokuta has a cosmopolitan outlook and  the city  offers low cost of living, cheap housing, quality educational facilities and modern amenities. A retiree can live like a prince in Abeokuta, spend less and save more money,  he can also embark on a sightseeing in  places of interest which include the Olumo Rock etc. He can as well shuttle to Lagos to do one or two businesses and go back to Abeokuta within 3 hours. The state often referred to as the Gateway hotel has a good security network.

4 CALABAR
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Image credited to crossriverwatch.com

The city is believed to be one of the best cities in the country, they are hospitable  and fun loving state, it is believed that anyone who cannot survive in Calabar cannot survive in any other city.
The obudu cattle ranch, , the Calabar carnival still drives flocks of people to Calabar, A neat state though their rent is relatively high but any fun seeking retiree will be happy to live in this city.

5 UYO
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Image credited to Nairaland


This city though moderately expensive is still the cynosures of eyes and a good retirement destination. They are peaceful and accommodating. They are also  close to the commercial city of Aba, where you may get whatever you want in the area of goods, business and any commercial enterprise.

6 ENUGU
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Image credited to Nairaland

The coal city, also regarded as Eastern gate way. It is city of learning as the city prides itself with enough educational institution, a very peaceful state and may be also be regarded as  a commercial town. Enugu offers a moderately accommodation rate.

7 JOS


Photo credit wikipedia

This city tends to be one best city in the world with a mild temperature and a conducive weather condition which gives rise to a good climatic environment. J Town as is fondly called has an attraction of both whites and blacks, but what drove the city to no 7 in the list is the occasional outbreak of hostilities in the town, though it has subsided, but that impression is still there. The city is relatively cheap with good road network and a cheap accommodation that is not obtainable any where in the country.


8 KADUNA



Photo credit saharareprters


This city pride itself as the centre of Northern Nigeria, it is regarded as the capital of northern Nigeria, there is no retired northern military leader that do not  have accommodation in this city, the city is also a centre of learning, with presence of enough educational institutions, federal parastatals etc, The Kaduna Mafia is still fresh in our minds, but that is not the object of our study.
The city is the centre of military learning; the Nigeria Defense Academy is located here. Although has occasional outbreak of hostilities. it is still  a good place to live.

9 LAGOS.



Photo credited to bellanaija

This is the centre of excellence, a mega city that may be regarded as a conurbation. A city where anything can happen. The city that never sleep.The commercial nerve center of Nigeria, it’s an expensive city , where accommodations is very high, rent is two years in advance, although the Governor through law has pegged it at 1 year, but the agents, property and Estate managers, still determine what happens.
But it is city where with hard work you can always survive. For upward mobile executives, this is the best place for them to retire.
Virtually most organizations, banks, Pension fund Administrators, oil companies , insurance companies all  have the head quarters in this city.
It is a city that when you first come in , you will not like it, partly because nobody seems to care, the buses does not stop for you to enter, but when you stay there long , you will not like to leave. it is the only in the world where you are not welcomed.  "This inscription says this is Lagos"


10 Abuja



Photo credit  abujaplaces.com

Abuja is the seat of Government, it’s one of the expensive cities  in the world, but it offers the best in security network. It is city that has only three exit and entry, the Kubwa axis that leads to Suleja in Niger state, the AYA axis that leads to Nasarawa  and the Gwagwalada , airport Rd axis that links Kogi .
It is a well planned city but most retired senators, government officials still regard it as a retirement destination as it affords them the opportunity to be close to corridors of power.
There are also suburb like Kubwa, Lugbe, Gwagwalada , Karmo and other areas retirees can live and have a happily life.

But the upward mobile retiree, this is the best place for them to retire.

REGINALD ODUNZE.COM

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