Nnewi

Introduction

Nnewi is a commercial and industrial city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria, and the second largest city in the state after Onitsha. As a metropolitan area it spans two Local Government Areas, Nnewi North and Nnewi South, both centred on Nnewi town, and urbanisation has spread outward to take in neighbouring communities including Ekwusigo. Nnewi town itself, the only town in Nnewi North, is made up of four villages: Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewichi.

Industry shapes the city's identity. Nnewi has been a centre of economics and commerce and was at one time the fastest growing industrial city east of the Niger, home to companies such as The Ibeto Group, the Chicason Group, and Cutix Cables. It also holds a place in Nigerian manufacturing history: the country's first indigenous car manufacturing plant is located here, and the first wholly Made-in-Nigeria motorcycle, the 'NASENI M1', was manufactured in Nnewi.

Before you go

Nnewi is a fast-developing industrial and commercial hub, so expect a busy, business-minded city rather than a resort town. Its industries and those of the adjoining towns turn out palm oil, cosmetics, motor and motorcycle spare parts, books, stationery, textiles and electric cables in commercial quantities, and major banks and other financial institutions have a presence here. Plan your trip around that commercial character, and allow time to move between the city and its neighbouring towns where much of the industry sits.

Hospitality is taken seriously, and it helps to know the custom before you arrive. In a typical Nnewi home, kola nuts, garden eggs, alligator pepper and sometimes groundnuts are kept ready for visitors, and a visit usually begins with the presentation of kola nuts to the guest. The kola nut is a traditional symbol of hospitality, signalling that you are warmly welcomed and should feel at home. Accept it graciously when it is offered.

Getting there

Getting around

Nnewi is a road-based city with no metro, tram or light-rail system to plan around. Motorcycles are the primary means of transport, in many different brands and sizes, and commercial ones run alongside those owned by households. Tricycles and shuttle buses complement them across the city, and residents also move about in private vehicles. In practice you will rarely wait long for a ride, but expect to negotiate and to travel light.

Shuttle buses are the closest thing to conventional public transport, with no ticketing system, pass or travelcard described — you simply board and pay. There is no formal taxi fleet or ride-hailing app described for Nnewi, so if you want a car with a driver, arrange it through your hotel or a local contact and agree the fare before you set off. Walking suits short local distances only, since the metropolitan area spreads across Nnewi North and Nnewi South and urbanisation reaches into neighbouring communities such as Ekwusigo; plan to walk in daylight on well-used routes and take a motorcycle or tricycle for anything longer. For longer journeys, inter-city operators run daily services into Nnewi, including Ekwulobia Urban Mass Transit Ltd. at Unizik Junction on the Awka-Onitsha Enugu Expressway, Transport Company of Anambra State (ABC), Eastern Mass Transit Ltd. at Unizik Junction opposite Sinai-Oil, and Peace Mass Transit from its terminal at No. 4/5 Owerri Road by Nwafor Orizu Roundabout, Umudim. PMT seats can be booked online, with seat selection and a choice of travel time, and excess luggage registered with its logistics arm. Carry cash in small denominations, keep your phone charged and a power bank handy, and tell your driver in advance if you are alighting at a particular stop.

Where to stay

Nnewi's accommodation is spread across the town and its surrounding neighbourhoods, with options ranging from pocket-friendly lodgings to luxurious suites. Along the Nnewi-Nnobi Road you'll find BetheEgol Suites, offering stunning rooms and suites with state-of-the-art amenities, and Cinnamon Hotel, which provides an affordable place to stay with a lounge and club house. The Seymour Hotel on Nnobi Road offers luxurious rooms, an indoor bar, a lounge and a restaurant, while Calido Fine Hotel on Eme-Court Road in Okpunoegbu Umudim serves premium food, deluxe accommodation, drinks and beverages, plus laundry and bar and restaurant service.

• Executive Golden Nugget Hotel & Suites — a hospitable hotel in a calm environment, serving local dishes and drinks.
• Chunique Royal Hotel & Suites — luxurious accommodation with banqueting and conferencing facilities, on Afam Ofordeme Street in Umudim, Okpunoegbu.
• De Next Centre Hotel & Suites — pocket-friendly deluxe suites, standard and platinum rooms, with restaurant and bar service and a focus on guest safety, on New Oba-Nnewi Okigwe Road.
• Glamour Park Hotel and Suites — executive rooms and royal suites with a bar, restaurant and nightclub, at Akaboukwu Bus-Stop on Old Onitsha Road.
• The Nnewi Hotel and Events Centre — restaurant and bar, accommodation, a gym centre, CCTV security and recreation parks, off the Nnewi Hotel Road in Akaboezem Uruagu.
• BetheEgol Suites — a convenient location with stunning rooms and suites and state-of-the-art amenities, on Metuh Street.
• Calido Fine Hotel — premium food, deluxe accommodation, drinks and beverages, laundry, bar and restaurant, on Eme-Court Road.
• Cinnamon Hotel (Cinnamon Suites) — a lounge and club house with affordable stays and complimentary food service, behind Peno Filling Station.

Food & drink

What to see and do

Nnewi's calendar is anchored by the New Yam Festival, known locally as Iri-ji ọhụrụ. Held towards the end of August, it marks the eating of the new yam and is treated as a major cultural occasion rather than a simple harvest meal. If your visit coincides with it, expect the town to be busy with celebrations.

• Watch the ceremonial rites performed by the Igwe (King), which open the festivities.
• See cultural dances performed by Igbo men, women and children.
• Take in contemporary shows and masquerade dances staged as part of the programme.
• Join the feasting, where a wide variety of dishes making up the Igbo menu is served on a grand scale.

When to go

Your most comfortable window for outdoor activity in Nnewi runs from early December to mid January, with conditions peaking in the last week of December. This is when being outside is at its easiest, and it is also the busiest stretch of the holiday period, so expect crowds at the places you want to see.

• March: the hottest month of the year. Sightseeing on foot is strenuous, so plan around the heat and look for shade or indoor stops in the middle of the day.
• May: the windiest month. Breezy conditions can make exposed outdoor spots less comfortable.
• August: the wettest month, when rain is most likely to disrupt outdoor plans. Build in flexibility and keep indoor alternatives ready.

Three days in Nnewi

Day one: Start in Nnewi itself, the town at the centre of Nnewi North in Anambra State, Nigeria. Get your bearings among its four quarters — Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim and Nnewichi — and note that the wider area also takes in Nnewi South and Ekwusigo among the Local Government Areas. Spend the day on the town's industrial character, which is what Nnewi is known for: the Ibeto Group, Chicason Group and Cutix Cables are the names to look for, alongside NASENI. If you want to see Nigerian manufacturing made in one place, this is where to look.

• Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim and Nnewichi — the four quarters of Nnewi
• Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo — the Local Government Areas
• Ibeto Group, Chicason Group, Cutix Cables and NASENI — the industrial names

Day two: Use Nnewi as your base and head out towards Onitsha, with the Onitsha Enugu Expressway as your main line across Anambra State. For getting around, the transport options named here include Ekwulobia Urban Mass Transit Ltd, ABC Transport Company, Eastern Mass Transit Ltd and Sinai, so you can plan a day of movement rather than staying put. Keep Awka and the Unizik Junction in mind if you are plotting a longer loop through the state.

• Onitsha — the neighbouring city to the east
• Onitsha Enugu Expressway — the main road link
• Ekwulobia Urban Mass Transit Ltd, ABC Transport Company, Eastern Mass Transit Ltd, Sinai — transport operators
• Awka and Unizik Junction — further points in Anambra State

Day three: Slow down and take in the hospitality side of Nnewi, which is part of what the town offers the visitor alongside its industry. Plan your onward travel before you leave — Enugu and Onitsha are the directions to weigh up, and the oil trade is part of the wider Niger and Nigerian economic picture you will have seen reflected in Nnewi's business life. Accept that a short stay only scratches the surface of a place this focused on making things.

• Hospitality in Nnewi — the visitor side of the town
• Enugu and Onitsha — onward directions
• Oil, Niger and Nigerian trade — the wider economic context