Coming home to Abuja? How to book a shortlet you have never seen

By the Prestine Apartments team. Published 28 September 2026, 3 minute read.

Gated two-storey Four Bedroom Premier house in Apo, Abuja, with palm trees and a paved driveway

The short answer

Confirm the address, see the actual unit, get the full price in writing, and pay only through a channel that sends you a written confirmation. Below are the seven checks in full, the questions to send the host, and what to expect when you land.

Seven checks before you pay

  1. Find out who owns or manages the place. You want a business or a person you can name and call back.
  2. Ask for a video of the exact unit you will get. Photos can be old or borrowed. A video filmed this week cannot.
  3. Check the address on Google Maps. The street, the building and the landmarks around it should match what the host told you.
  4. Get the full nightly price in writing. Ask what it includes, so tax and service charge do not appear at check-in.
  5. Pay only through a channel that sends a written confirmation. If anything goes wrong, that confirmation is your proof.
  6. Avoid large transfers through online-only banks. Police investigators say that money is hard to trace once it has gone.
  7. Walk away from a host who rushes you or cannot show the unit. A host who needs your money today is a warning sign.

In October 2025 a diaspora family lost ₦1.3m to an Instagram "agent" for a shortlet in Lagos. That case was in Lagos, but the checks work the same in Abuja.

Questions to ask the host on WhatsApp

Copy these into your first message:

  • What is the exact address?
  • Can you send a video of the unit I will get?
  • What does the nightly price include?
  • What time is check-in, and what time is check-out?
  • What happens if the power goes?
  • How do I get from the airport to you?

Landing before dawn

If you fly British Airways from London, flight BA83 is due into Abuja at 04:50, so you land before 5am. Plan the ride before you board. Uber shut down in Nigeria on 2 September 2026. Bolt is cleared to work at the airport again, and the official airport taxi fares are shown through FAAN's ACHRAMS system. The airport is about 40 km from the Central Business District, 37 to 45 minutes by road. Send your host your flight time so someone knows when to expect you.

How booking works at Prestine

Check 5 is how we work. Our policy reads: "Booking is confirmed only when payment has been received by the Management and a Booking Confirmation Advice is sent." So you get the confirmation in writing before you travel.

Our prices include VAT and service charge. We ask for a valid ID on arrival, and check-out is 12 noon. You can read the full policies before you book.

What a guest wrote

"They have top notch security, brand new appliances, an elevator, 24 hours electricity."Google review, 2025

Our apartments are in Apo and Lugbe. See what staying in Apo is like or what staying in Lugbe is like.

Questions people ask

How do I avoid a shortlet scam in Abuja?

Confirm who owns or manages the place, see a video of the exact unit, check the address on Google Maps, get the price in writing, and pay only through a channel that sends a written confirmation.

Should I pay for a shortlet before I arrive?

Only when the host has shown you the unit and you pay through a channel that sends a written confirmation. At Prestine, a booking is confirmed only when payment is received and a Booking Confirmation Advice is sent.

Can I take an Uber from Abuja airport?

No. Uber shut down in Nigeria on 2 September 2026. Bolt is cleared to work at the airport, and official airport taxi fares are shown through FAAN's ACHRAMS system.

What do I need to check in?

A valid means of identification. Check-out is 12 noon.

Ask before you book

Send us your dates and your questions on WhatsApp. We will answer every one of the questions above.

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