It is almost nightfall, and the sound of laughter rises above the rustle of leaves at a cozy spot in Wuse II, a district in the heart of Abuja. Tables are spread out beneath a variety of trees, as fairy lights twinkle against a darkening sky, while an Afrobeats song pulses in the background. It is a familiar scene across Nigeria's capital these days, one that signals the rise of what many now call Abuja's "garden economy."
Once a city known mainly for its sterile office buildings and roundabouts, Abuja is fast reinventing itself as the country's green leisure capital. Across districts like Wuse, Maitama, Gwarinpa and Garki, dozens of restaurants, bars and cafs have sprung up in lush, open-air spaces, combining dining with nature in a distinctly Abuja way.
Over a decade ago, when gardens started catching on, people thought alfresco dining wouldn't survive Abuja's weather. But many business owners say the outdoor vibe is what everyone is pursuing.
