Abia State · Nigeria
Aba travel guide
Aba is a city in Abia State, Nigeria, home to about 1,160,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- QOW39 km · Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport
- Currency
- NGNnaira
- Time zone
- Africa/Lagos
- Language
- English
About
About Aba
Aba is a city in southeastern Nigeria. It lies along the west bank of the Aba River and is at the intersection of roads leading to cities such as Port Harcourt, Owerri, Umuahia, Ikot Ekpene, and Ikot-Abasi.
In 2016, Aba had an estimated population of 2.5 million (2016) and area of 72 km². Aba is mainly peopled by the Igbo ethnic group. The Igbo people are one of the indigenous peoples of South Eastern part of Nigeria make up 95% of the population of Aba. The traditional language of Aba people is Igbo. English is also widely spoken, and serves as the official language in governance and business. Aba is the host for Abia State University Teaching Hospital which serve as referral hospitals in Abia State, Abia State Polytechnic, and Rhema University.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Aba
See
The Aba River is a river in southern Nigeria. It runs through the city. It is a tributary of the Imo River which borders between Imo State and Abia State. Its headwaters are in Okpu-Umuobo in the Ngwa heartland into the Aba City.
- National Museum of Colonial History
- Christ The King Cathedral
- Enyimba International Stadium
- Ariaria International Market
- Aba Nigeria Temple
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Aba to stay in
When it comes to accommodation, Aba hotels can be affordable, although there are not much luxurious hotels in Aba like most of the big cities in Nigeria, Aba hotels are comfortable and well managed with outstanding services. If your vacation or business trip is on budget, there are so many budget hotels you can lodge in. These hotels has affordable lodging properties and basic amenities and good comfort, for example amenities like coffeemaker, satellite TV and shuttle service.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Aba
Aba has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C; September is the wettest, with about 350 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Aba: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW), about 39 km from the city centre in a straight line; Port Harcourt International Airport (PHC, 48 km) and Port Harcourt City Airport / Port Harcourt Air Force Base (PHG, 49 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Transportation in Aba is different from what you might see in most major cities in Nigeria. Aba doesn’t have much of a good road network and good roads but there has been great improvement in that area in the past two years. You must enter the city by road through any of the various transport companies as Aba does not have an airport. Visitors need to take a ride around the city through the popular Osisioma Junction since the only means of transportation within the city is via a commercial bus, a tricycle popularly known as keke or a motorbike known as okada.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
QOW · Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport
PHC · Port Harcourt International Airport
PHG · Port Harcourt City Airport / Port Harcourt Air Force Base
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Aba
Eat
Food you can’t afford to miss while in Aba are, Abacha, Ofe Achara, Ofe Akwu and Rice, Ofe Oha, Ofe Onugbo, Ofe Egusi,Ofe ogbono these can either go with pounded yam or fufu others are Fisherman soup, Banga, Afang and Edika Ikong.
Stay safe
Aba could easily be described as a beautiful and serene environment couple with the gift of nature and the atmosphere is cool and conducive. Aba is also a big trading center and the major commercial city in Abia State and it is conducive for business due to the fact that it is an industrial area. over the years, the city has grown through several challenges. Though, despite all these challenges Aba can be said to be a safe place due to a mix of her rich culture and business acumen. The city is open in terms of business, culture and religion both for residents and tourists and this makes it very easy for every one to get assimilated into the city.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Aba: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Aba?
Aba has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C; September is the wettest, with about 350 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Aba?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW), about 39 km from the city centre in a straight line; Port Harcourt International Airport (PHC, 48 km) and Port Harcourt City Airport / Port Harcourt Air Force Base (PHG, 49 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Aba?
naira (NGN).
Nearby
Destinations near Aba
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.