Jabi Boat Club

Jabi Boat Club helped introduce water sports to Abuja and is a popular way to get out on Jabi Lake. It was founded around 2017 by Ferguson Uzomah, a former investment banker who grew up around the water in coastal Lagos and wanted to bring boating to the capital. The club sits on Alex Ekwueme Way in Jabi and has hosted well-known musicians, including Femi Kuti and Burna Boy.

The main activity is a cruise on a pontoon boat, a flat-bottomed boat that carries a group of up to about eight passengers with a rider and a lifeguard, sold in blocks from 15 minutes to an hour. Jet skis are available for shorter, faster rides, and kayaks, canoes and pedal boats offer cheaper, slower ways to explore the lake. A ride on the water at sunset is the most popular choice for couples and groups of friends.

Back on shore there is a restaurant with large windows over the lake. The menu leans towards Nigerian dishes, such as catfish pepper soup, along with grills and snacks such as shawarma and barbecue chicken. The club also has snooker and tennis, and it hires out the boathouse and boats for photo and video shoots, which are popular for birthdays and celebrations.

Each night has its own theme, from paint and sip to karaoke, salsa and party nights, with a family brunch on Sundays, so the atmosphere changes through the week. Check the club's social media for the current programme before you go, and confirm prices on arrival, as rates are set per ride and per time block.

The club has said that boating alone does not pay the bills, which explains the mix of food, events and games alongside the water sports. It has also talked about expanding to other parts of Nigeria, including Asaba in Delta State.

Ask for a life jacket before any ride and supervise children closely near the water. Late afternoon is the best time for a cruise, before the evening events begin. The club is close to Jabi Lake Mall, so you can combine a boat ride with a meal at Istanbul Cafe & Restaurant or a rooftop drink at Aura.