Overview
Umuahia is a city of about 774,000 (2020) in Abia State, South East Nigeria. Umuahia is renowned for being a railway and agricultural market center, which attracts traders and farmers from neighbouring towns to sell their produce, such as yams, cassava, corn (maize), taro, citrus fruits, and palm oil and kernels.
Understand
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.
There are industries that help drive its economy, such as a brewery and a palm-oil-processing plant. Nigeria's National Root Crops Research Institute, at Umudike, is adjacent to the town.
The city is well known for being an agricultural market centre in south East Nigeria. It is also a railway collection point for crops such as yams, cassava, vegetables,palm kernel among others. It is the host of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) formerly known as Federal University of Agriculture (FUAU), Government College Umuahia, Trinity College and several hospitals like Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia (formerly Queen Elizabeth Hospital). Umuahia comprises of two local government areas namely; Umuahia North and Umuahia South.
Umuahia is made up of two local government areas which are Umuahia North and Umuahia South. These two local government is made up of five clans which are:
Ubakala Olokoro Umuokpara Ohuhu Ibeku
Climate Umuahia has a tropical climate. During most months of the year, there is significant rainfall in Umuahia. There is only a short dry season which begins in November and ends in February while the rainy season begins in March and ends in October, with a short break in August. Precipitation is the lowest in December, with an average of 15 mm. Most precipitation falls in September, with an average of 322 mm. At an average temperature of 27.5 °C, March is the hottest month of the year. In August, the average temperature is 24.5 °C. It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year.
Get in
By plane 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.
Another airport that can also service visitors who want to come into Umuahia by air is Port Harcourt International Airport. The distance between Umuahia and Port Harcourt International Airport is two hours.
By bus Travelers who want to come to Umuahia by bus should feel free because there are so many bus transport companies that come to Umuahia from other cities and states. Reliable transport companies such as God is Good Motors, Peace Mass Transit, Abia line, The Young Shall Grow, Imo Transort Company (ITC) among many others transport people from different parts of the country to Umuahia.
Get 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.
See
National War Museum. Shows displays of weapons from both sides of the 1967-1971 Nigerian conflict and various exhibits pertaining to the event, including boats, planes, and tanks outside. No photography allowed inside. Also has bunker from where Voice of Biafra radio transmissions originated.
Ojukwu's Bunker. Ojukwu's Bunker is part of the National War Museum and it's annex is at Okpara Avenue. It is where the late Biafran general hid while commanding the desperate attempts to secede from the country. The bunker was constructed during the civil war after the fall of Enugu and it was the subterranean office for the Biafran government. The premises of Ojukwu bunker belonged to Late Dr. Michael I. Okpara who was the second Premier of Eastern Nigeria from December 17, 1959 to January 15, 1966. The bunker measures 26.9 feet deep and about 8 m. It was constructed under 90 days, between April to June 1968. All the people involved in the construction of the bunker were less than 40 years old.
The Gate of Umuahia. Not a gate, but the name they call the grand market at the centre of the city where different food and clothing items are sold.The market operates mostly in the night. Although efforts have been made to stop the sales of items in this location. It is also a stop for various commuters buses travelling to and fro from various places in the South East.
Akwete Cloth Production House. The akwete cloth production is a unique hand woven textile produced in the town of Akwete. The traditional Igbo weaving as demonstrated in Akwete processes sisal-hemp, raffia and spun cotton into finished products. While the coarse raffia materials are used by masquerades and in the past as headgear for warriors among other uses, the hemp material was used to weave towels, ropes, and handbags. The more comfortable and colourful spun cotton is used to weave cloth for everyday wearing. The weaving of the cloth is usually done by the women, and the ability to weave is seen as a gift.
Abia Tower. A beautiful place to behold in Umuahia. It is a grand work of architecture. Abia Tower is graced with a pleasant arrangement of flowers and it is always a perfect site for picture-perfect moments for visitors.
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, formerly the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, was established as a specialized University by the Federal Government of Nigeria via Decree No 48 of 2nd November 1992. It began formal activities on May 1993 with the appointment of the first Council and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Placid C. Njoku on 27th May 1993, while other key officials of the University were appointed later. Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe is a Distinguished Professor at the university’s Department of Food Science and Technology (FST). who succeeded the (LATE)Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta as the sixth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university is a Professor of Food Science Technology and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the university. He assumed office on Tuesday, March 1, 2021.
Umuahia Central Bus Terminal. It is a state-of-the-art bus terminal with rooms for lodging built at the heart of Umuahia, at the Ishi gate axis, from where the state-owned luxury buses operate.
Do
Ekpe Festival Umuahia. Masquerade festival is peculiar to Umuahia people that is celebrated annually in January. It is a lively cultural festival that attracts people from all walks of life. The festival has existed for so many years and it involves many kinds of Ekpe masquerades performing different kinds of cultural dance during the festival. During the festival, male and female both young and old normally dress in their cultural attire, the male must tie a piece of George (wrapper) to make up for the cultural attire. Male children who have been initiated into Ekpe masquerade, and are skilled in playing the cultural music, show case their talent and expertise in their culture while the masquerade performs the dancing. In appreciation of the performance of the masquerade, players and individual dancers donate money to the masquerade while the music is still on. When the cultural celebration want to come to an end, Ekpe masquerade will use a cutlass and behead a goat at a strike.
New Yam Festival. The most significant festival in Umuahia, Abia State. New yam festival is celebrated annually at the end of the rainy season in August in thanksgiving to the gods for a bumper harvest.
Buy
Markets Umuahia has many markets where visitors can go and buy what they need.
Amuzukwu Relief Market. Located at Niger Road/Amuzukwu Umuahia North L.G.A.
Ishi-gate market. Umuahia is a central business district of the town. There is actually no real gate at the place, except a long metallic bar which is usually employed to close vehicular traffic routes when trains are passing in other to avoid accidents.
Umuahia Ultramodern Market. This market has been in Umuahia for more than seven decades. It is the busiest market in Umuahia, as business activities going on in the market almost throughout the day. It is a very good place to shop for food items and it is very affordable.
Supermarkets There are so many supermarkets in Umuahia that offer a wide variety of food, groceries, beverages, beauty care products, fashion items, toiletries, and household products. Most of them are organized into sections so as to make it easier for customers to do their shopping with ease.
Ezeigbo Supermarket. It offers wholesale and retail sales of variety of products ranging from food stuff to cosmetics, toiletries, beverages, household items etc.
De-Mecks Super Market. De-Mecks Super Market is a wholesale and retail shopping centre for gift items, perfume, cosmetics, greeting cards, accessories, fashion, home decor, baby items, pet items, batteries, grocery, foodstuff, beverages, wines & hot drinks etc.
Shoprite Abia. Offers low prices on the best grocery, household products, beauty products, convenient services, gift items and many others.
247 Supermarket. Provides for daily needs in such areas as groceries,provisions, household items, toiletries, wines and other needs.
NIC & Angel Superstore. NIC & Angel Superstore deals with glossaries, food items, perfumes, provisions, stationeries, baby items, cosmetics, beauty products, wears and many others.
Tina-mak Supermarket. Tina-mak Supermarket provides its customers with such items as groceries, food products, fashion products etc.
Zubbyjee Enterprise's. In-store shopping.
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.
Chillis Café. Chillis Café offers prepared meals and pastries.
Apples Fastfood. Apples fastfood has great meal option and enough parking space.
Bubbles Food. Bubbles Food is a very affordable restaurant.
Mr Bigg's. Mr Bigg's offers varieties of continental cuisines and excellent pastries.
D Place. D Place is a good to go for a cool drink. It offers dishes like Nkwobi, Isiewu, and pepper soup.
Crunchies. A fast food restaurant that offers prepared meals and pastries.
Kilimanjaro Restaurant. African and International cuisines.
Jovit Fast Food. Shawarma, hamburgers and pizza among many other dishes from African and international cuisine.
Moses Peace Restaurant. Contemporary Nigerian dishes.
PFF fast food and services. Offering local and Continental breakfast, dishes.
Aquilla African. Dine in and delivery.
Nua Fast Food. Dine in and takeaway.
Home Of The Whopper. Dine in and takeaway.
Crunchies Umuahia. Dine in and takeaway.
Ndiebe Junction. Dine in and takeaway.
Ebere Canteen Shop. Dine-in and take-away.
Aphy's foods and more. Fried rice, Chinese rice, potato chips and fish
Abacus foods. Okpa, rice and stew, Chinese rice, fried rice
Ndume bad and restaurant. Jelof rice, chicken soup, spaghetti Bolognese
Chopsy. Vegetable soup with starch, fried rice, cakes
Drink
Umuahia has beautiful bars and beer joints where tourists and visitors can go and cool off after their day-to-day activities. Some of these bars include:
Nekebis Exclusive Bar. Deals on various beers, wines, hot drinks various drinks, Ugba, nkwobi etc.
Sleep
Rixos Continental Resort. Free breakfast, restaurant, bar pool, gym, spa, wifi.
Hotel Royal Damgrete. 60 rooms and suites categorised into Standard, Executive, Studio Suite, Royal Suite, Diplomatic Suite and Presidential Suite. Each room is equipped with air-conditioning, a study/reading table, sofa, cable TV and an en suite bathroom. This hotel has 4 bars, a restaurant, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, parking space for 150 cars, high speed Wi-Fi, conference halls, and an executive boardroom, a lawn tennis court, CCTV cameras, firefighting equipment and uniformed security personnel. They also have generators to ensure constant power supply.
Villa Roy Hotel. 3-star hotel and a good value. It is tastefully furnished, with modern facilities and services. This hotel features spacious guest rooms and suites, each with contemporary decoration, a refrigerator, wireless high-speed internet access, and cable satellite television. Amenities in the hotel include: a restaurant, bar and cocktail lounge, an outdoor swimming pool, free parking space and great exercise facilities for indoor and outdoor exercise.
De Royal Legacy Hotel and Suites. A 3-star hotel. Amenities include a restaurant, a snack bar/deli, free WiFi in public areas and free self parking, free newspapers, safes, and desks. Other amenities include 24-hour room service, dry cleaning, and laundry facilities, and LED TVs with satellite channels.
Golden Olives Resort. This hotel offers customers free breakfast, free wifi, a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, and free parking space.
De Paragon View Hotel. Standard and serene environment.
New Eastern Comfort Hotel. They offer comfortable accommodations, dining, event halls, fitness facilities, and professional laundry services.
Make Umuahia your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5363128 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-09-15. This is not a date of field verification.
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