Borno State · Nigeria
Maiduguri travel guide
Maiduguri is a city in Borno State, Nigeria, home to about 791,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- MIU8 km · Maiduguri International Airport
- Currency
- NGNnaira
- Time zone
- Africa/Lagos
- Language
- English
About
About Maiduguri
Maiduguri ( my-DOO-guurr-ee) is the capital and the largest city of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria, on the continent of Africa. The city sits along the seasonal Ngadda River which disappears into the Firki swamps in the areas around Lake Chad.
Maiduguri is the principal trading hub for north-eastern Nigeria. Its economy is largely based on services and trade with a small share of manufacturing. Maiduguri is home to three markets which include a modern "Monday market".
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Maiduguri
See
- Borno State Museum
- Emir Palace Maiduguri
- Indimi central mosque
- Mai Deribe Palace
- Central Mosque Maiduguri
Do
- Al-Ansar University Maiduguri
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Maiduguri to stay in
Usually, fancy places with 24/24 electricity and AC prices range from 50,000NGN. Cheaper hotels prices range from 25,000NGN, but electricity and ACs may never work during your stay (October 2024).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Maiduguri
1 hotel within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Amada International Hotel Annex | 2.5 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Maiduguri
Maiduguri has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 42 °C; August is the wettest, with about 214 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 Maiduguri: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Maiduguri International Airport (MIU), about 7.9 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
You will occasionally see large convoys of military jeeps, passenger vans, and black SUVs driving through the city at high speeds with sirens on. Do not attempt to overtake or cut into these convoys, which mainly transport government officials between the airport and Government House. To pass the time, try to count the number of vehicles in the convoy: the higher the number, the more important the person. Yellow kekes (tuk-tuks), blue buses and tricycles are local ways of transportation. Count 1USD (1,500NGN) for 45mins of keke, and 20cents (300NGN for the same by tricycle).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
MIU · Maiduguri International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Maiduguri
Stay safe
Maiduguri is the epicenter of the Islamist Insurgency in Northeast Nigeria and, despite heavy military presence and relative security within the confines of the city, militants are able to move freely only 20 km from the city center. Rocket and mortar attacks on targets within Maiduguri, particularly in the west of the city around the airport, are common. Bomb attacks within the city have not happened for some time, but cannot be ruled out. Any person coming to Maiduguri for the first time should be well acquainted with War zone safety.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Maiduguri: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Maiduguri?
Maiduguri has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 42 °C; August is the wettest, with about 214 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Maiduguri?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Maiduguri International Airport (MIU), about 7.9 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Maiduguri?
naira (NGN).
Nearby
Destinations near Maiduguri
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.