Benue State · Nigeria
Makurdi travel guide
Makurdi is a city in Benue State, Nigeria, home to about 517,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- MDI9 km · Makurdi Airport
- Currency
- NGNnaira
- Time zone
- Africa/Lagos
- Language
- English
About
About Makurdi
Makurdi is the capital of Benue State, located in central Nigeria, and part of the Middle Belt region of central Nigeria. The city is situated along the Benue River.
Makurdi is more of a political and administrative city than is commercial. It is also a major transport route between the north and south of Nigeria. It is predominantly made up of the Tiv tribe, who have been in leadership since civilian rule, then the Idoma, Igede, Etulo people. The capital is mostly a Christian city, with Muslims and African traditional religion making the minority. The city is quite accommodating as it is the cultural capital of the state. The town is slow, laid-back and there are lots of men around drinking alcohol.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Makurdi
See
- River Benue Bank
- Makurdi Zoological Garden
- Benue State University
- University of Agriculture Makurdi
- Fun City Park
- Sese Park and Event Center
Do
- Aper Aku Stadium
- River Benue
- Exodus Cinema
- Saba Film Hall
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Makurdi
Makurdi has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 37 °C; September is the wettest, with about 230 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 Makurdi: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Makurdi Airport (MDI), about 9.1 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
It is on the main narrow gauge railway line running north from Port Harcourt. There are regular bus services linking Makurdi to neighbouring towns. Prominent among shuttle service providers are the Benue Links with their park in Makurdi stationed opposite Access Bank at the Wurukum axis of the City and the God's Will Transport Services, Pleasure Travels which is opposite Benue Links, Nyanya Transport Company, Yaman Transport Company. They leave early so be sure to check in on time.
Getting around
The major means of moving around Makurdi is shuttle mini buses, motorcycles and tricycles (keke-napep). It is best to have a local guide and to not go out at night. Touts can be a nuisance, and street gangs are best avoided. There are two bridges which connect the southern and northern banks of the River Benue. One is the dual carriageway bridge for pedestrians and vehicles while the other is the rail bridge. The buses ply routes through the city. The cost depends on the length of your trip with the minimum being ₦50. You can get a bus for virtually anywhere in the city centre.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
MDI · Makurdi Airport
Questions
Makurdi: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Makurdi?
Makurdi has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 37 °C; September is the wettest, with about 230 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Makurdi?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Makurdi Airport (MDI), about 9.1 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Makurdi?
naira (NGN).
Nearby
Destinations near Makurdi
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.