Abia State · Nigeria
Umuahia travel guide
Umuahia is a city in Abia State, Nigeria, home to about 359,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- QOW33 km · Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport
- Currency
- NGNnaira
- Time zone
- Africa/Lagos
- Language
- English
About
About Umuahia
Umuahia is the capital city of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to its south, and Enugu city to its north.
Umuahia is the capital of Abia State. It has its place in history as the second capital of Biafra State after the first, Enugu, was captured by the Nigerian Forces during the Nigerian Civil War. It retained this designation until the Nigerian Forces finally overcame the rebellion, at which point it suffered neglect from the Nigerian government as a form of retaliation, observable to this day. An area made up of the Igbo people by and large, it got its peculiar name from a British misspelling of the Igbos' original name for their community.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Umuahia
See
- National War Museum
- Ojukwu's Bunker
- The Gate of Umuahia
- Akwete Cloth Production House
- Abia Tower
- Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
- Umuahia Central Bus Terminal
Do
- Ekpe Festival Umuahia
- New Yam Festival
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Umuahia
Umuahia 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 335 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 Umuahia: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW), about 33 km from the city centre in a straight line; Port Harcourt International Airport (PHC, 83 km) and Port Harcourt City Airport / Port Harcourt Air Force Base (PHG, 92 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Travellers who want to go to Umuahia by air have to make use of the closest airport to Umuahia which is the Sam Mbakwe Cargo International Airport located in Ngor-Okpala Imo State, which is also known as the Imo Airport. Airlines that service this airport are Overland Airways, Arik Air and Air Peace. There are buses readily available to transport people from the Airport to Umuahia. You should not get uncomfortable because the driving time from Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport to Umuahia, Nigeria is: 1 hour 47 minutes.
Getting around
Umuahia has a superb road network and low population density and this makes it to rarely ever have a traffic jam or delay. Commercial Tricycles popularly known as Keke and buses, as well as the state-owned Green Shuttle Buses are used as the major means of transportation in Umuahia. age cost of transportation within Umuahia varies and depends on the economy of the time.
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 Umuahia
Eat
Most of the restaurants and eateries in Umuahia offer African cuisines, International cuisine, Dine-in, Takeaway and delivery services. The foods they serve their customers are super spicy and delicious.
Drink
Umuahia has beautiful bars and beer joints where tourists and visitors can go and cool off after their day-to-day activities.
Stay safe
Umuahia could easily be described as a city of refuge, due to the fact it houses a war museum. Over the years, the city has grown through several challenges, from acting as a capital for the defunct Republic of Biafra to the several security problems that plagued the city for some time. Despite all these challenges, Umuahia 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 culture and religion both for residents and tourists, and this makes it very easy for every one to get assimilated into the society.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Umuahia: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Umuahia?
Umuahia 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 335 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Umuahia?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW), about 33 km from the city centre in a straight line; Port Harcourt International Airport (PHC, 83 km) and Port Harcourt City Airport / Port Harcourt Air Force Base (PHG, 92 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Umuahia?
naira (NGN).
Nearby
Destinations near Umuahia
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.