Okigwe

Okigwe is city in Imo State in South East Nigeria. It is the third largest city, after Owerri and Orlu, in Imo state. Okigwe is on the Port Harcourt-Enugu-Maiduguri rail line.

Understand
Most of the population of Okigwe is made up of immigrant workers from other states. Okigwe city was the primary host site of the old Imo State University (now Abia State University).

Okigwe's soil is predominantly partly red clay and black or dark brown. The major crops grown in the district on its hilly farmlands are palm trees (palm oil and palm wine), cassava, and vegetables.

By plane
Travelers who wish to come into Okigwe by air have to make use of the closest airport to Okigwe which is Sam Mbakwe Cargo International Airport (Owerri Airport), located in Ngokpala Imo State, which is fifty minutes' to one hour's drive from Okigwe. Airlines that service Sam Mbakwe Cargo International Airport are Overland Airways and Arik Air. There are airport taxi and buses readily available to transport people from the Airport to Okigwe.

By bus
Travelers that want to come to Okigwe by bus should feel free because there are so many reliable bus transport companies that come to Okigwe from other cities and states. The average cost of travelling to Okigwe by bus from the South-South and South-East is ₦1,000 while the average cost of travelling to Okigwe from the other parts of Nigeria is ₦5,000. Reliable transport companies such as Imo Transort Company (ITC), Abia line, God is Good Motors, Peace Mass Transit, the Young Shall Grow among many others transport companies are readily available to convey people from different parts of the country to Okigwe.

Get around
Transportation in Okigwe is different from what you might see in most major cities in Nigeria. Okigwe doesn’t have a very smooth and good road network  but there has been great improvement in that area in the past one year. Visitors that enter into Okigwe by road through any of the transport companies should take a ride around the city through the popular Okigwe junction. This can be a little stressful as the only means of transportation within the city is via the commercial bus, tricycle popularly known as keke or motorbike. Most transport enters and leaves the city of Okigwe through Park.

Do
Ikeji festival is one of the most significant festivals in Okigwe, Imo State, with Ikeji literally meaning strength or power of the yam. Ikeji festival is a thanksgiving and merriment festival that is being celebrated annually in September and is a festival done in thanksgiving to the gods for a good harvest.

Buy
In okigwe, there are local markets and supermarkets where visitors can go and purchase everything they need.

Eat
Okigwe has beautiful restaurants that satisfy tourists with delicious dishes at a pocket friendly rate.



Stay safe
Okigwe is a relatively peaceful place that guarantees a swashbuckling stay for tourists and visitors. Visitors moving around in Okigwe should endeavour to sanitize their hands and wear nose masks to avoid being infected with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The region has also reportedly been under siege by the army and constant attacks by "unknown gunmen". It is advisable to be careful and not to stay out late.

Connect
The networks in certain parts of Okigwe can be very erratic most times, more especially when it rains or there is a change in weather. On certain days you cannot make a phone call at all or you will not be able to recharge your phone for most of the day, and this makes business very difficult most times. However, this situation is occasional and that is all the more reason why it is advisable to make sure you come with at least two phones or a phone that has a dual SIM port if you want to stay for a long term in Okigwe.

Go next

 * Umuaka
 * Ohafia
 * Orlu
 * Awka
 * Anara
 * Abiriba
 * Owerri
 * Enugu
 * Afikpo
 * Umuahia