Aba


 * For the city in China please see Aba (China).

Aba is a city in Abia State, South East Nigeria, and also the commercial centre of Abia State. Aba is well known for its craftsmen and also the most populous city in the South Eastern Nigeria.

Understand
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.

Aba has much arable land that produces plantains, yams, coco yam, corn (maize), potatoes, rice, cashews, taro,cassava, three leaf yam and Vegetables like Okro, Tomatoes, cucumber etc. Oil palm is the most important cash crop in Aba.Upon the construction of the railway circa 1915 from Port Harcourt (36 miles [58 km] southwest), the city has become a major collecting point for agricultural produce (especially palm oil and palm kernels).

Aba is the commercial center of Abia State and it is popularly called the "Enyimba city" with a moulded Elephant as the statue. It was established by the Ngwa clan of Igbo people as a market town, in 1901. The city became an assembling point for agricultural products after the British made railway running through it from Enugu to Port Harcourt. It is a major urban settlement and commercial centre. The indigenous people of Aba are the Ngwa.

Villages
Aba is made up of many villages such as:


 * Aba-Ukwu
 * Eziukwu-Aba
 * Obuda-Aba
 * Umuokpoji-Aba
 * Ohazu

Economy
Aba is surrounded by oil wells which separate it from the city of Port-Harcourt. A pipeline powers Aba with gas from the Imo River natural gas repository. The major economic contributions of Aba are Textiles, palm oil, pharmaceuticals, plastics, papers,cement, and cosmetics. This trade activities makes the Ariaria International Market the second largest market in Nigeria after the Onitsha Main Market. There are also companies like Heineken brewery, a glass company and distillery within the city. Aba is famous for its handicrafts.

By plane
Travelers that want to go to Aba by air have to make use of the closest airport to Aba which is Sam Mbakwe Cargo International Airport (Owerri Airport) located in Ngokpala Imo State which is1 hr 8 min (53.8 km) via Port Harcourt - Enugu Expy/A3 and Aba-Owerri Expy/A6

. Airlines that service Sam Mbakwe Cargo International Airport are Overland Airways and Arik Air. There are buses readily available to transport people from the Airport to Aba. Also travelers who wish to come to Aba by air can make use of Port Harcourt International Airport which is 2 hours to Aba. Another airport that can also service visitors who want to come into Aba by air is Akwa Ibom Airport (Akwa Ibom State). The distance between Uyo (Akwa Ibom) and Aba is 73.28 km.

By train
The old metre-gauge railway from Port Harcourt has recently been rehabilitated and there are now daily passenger trains. As of 2024 the railway north of Aba is undergoing repairs and services are suspended until at least 2026.



By bus
Travelers who want to come to Aba by bus should feel free because there are so many reliable bus transport companies that come to Aba from other cities and states. The average cost of travelling to Aba by bus from the South-South and South-East is ₦1,700 while the average cost of travelling to Aba from the other parts of Nigeria is ₦6,000. Reliable transport companies such as the Young Shall Grow, Abia line, God is Good Motors,Faith Motors Peace Mass Transit, Imo Transort Company (ITC) among many other transport companies are readily available to convey people from different parts of the country to Aba.

Get 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.

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.

Do

 * Iwaji Festival also known as New yam festival is the most significant festival in Aba. It is an annual celebrated at the end of the rainy season in early August in other to render thanksgiving to the gods for a good harvest. It is mostly celebrated at the grassroots level or centrally, and the celebration comes with lots of preparation and fanfare. During the festival, the first tubers of yam harvest are prepared in celebration and thanksgiving to the land’s deities for a fruitful harvest. Before the official celebration, the people perform certain rituals according to the customs and traditions of the locality. The traditional ruler or the oldest person around usually performs the ceremony. As mediators between their deities and the villagers, the chief celebrant dips a piece of the roasted yam into a bowl of palm oil and eats
 * Ngwa Day festival

Markets
There are several well-known markets in Aba that serve the entire region with quality furniture, wares, fairly used wears and household wares, plastics, provisions, cosmetics, food items, etc. These markets include:


 * Ehere Market also known as the Ehere Modern Market is located at the Ogbor Hill axis of Aba. It is one of the modernized and upgraded markets in Aba. It is a full-fledged and functional market where visitors can purchase a whole range of products such as groceries, food items, clothing, textile, fashion, building materials, and whole lot of other general products.
 * Eziukwu Market (Cemetery Market) was established in 1987 and it was formally known as cemetery market. It is accessible on both road and rail. it is strategically located on the railway track that link Aba, Enugu, Abakiliki, Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri. It is a well known market for items such as stockfish, toiletries, drinks, stationary, groceries, cosmetics items, provisions, furniture, electrical lightings, local crafts, food items among many other items. It is a major depot for all sorts of foodstuff arriving from Northern part of Nigeria. This market shares boundary with Aba Cemetery, hence the name Cemetery Market. The market has lots of distributors, dealers and importers of different products.
 * Alaoji Motor Parts Market is along the Aba Port Harcourt expressway. This is a market for vehicle spare parts both brand new and fairly used, accessories and auto mechanics. The market also has highly skilled and professional mechanics who repair and handle automobiles.
 * Ahia Umungasi which is situate along Aba Owerri Road. This market encompasses mainly food items (perishable and non-perishable).
 * Alaoji Motor Parts Market is along the Aba Port Harcourt expressway. This is a market for vehicle spare parts both brand new and fairly used, accessories and auto mechanics. The market also has highly skilled and professional mechanics who repair and handle automobiles.
 * Ahia Umungasi which is situate along Aba Owerri Road. This market encompasses mainly food items (perishable and non-perishable).

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.



Drink
The most popular dish you can get in a beer parlor are fresh fish or Nkwobi.

Budget
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.



Splurge
Visitors that want the best amenities and the most comfort in hotels in Aba. Few of the best and most expensive hotels or resorts in Aba area:



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.

Connect
The networks in certain parts of Aba can be very erratic at times. On certain days you cannot make a phone call at all or you will not be able to recharge your phone for the most of the day making business very difficult at times. But situation its occasional and that is the more reason why it is wise that travelers who wish to stay in Aba for a long term to make sure that they have at least two phones or a dual SIM phone.

Go next
From Aba, you can travel some other cities and states in Nigeria like:


 * Uyo
 * Port Harcourt
 * Owerri
 * Umuahia
 * Ikot Ekpene
 * Ikot Abasi (Opobo)
 * Osisioma
 * Afikpo