Stand on Ikot Ekpene Road in central Aba and the National Museum of Colonial History is within reach, with Christ The King Cathedral a short walk away. That compact centre is the easiest way to start understanding the city.
Aba suits travellers passing through southern Nigeria, football followers, and anyone curious about colonial history, markets and local festivals. This guide covers the places worth your time and how to string them together in a single day.
Top things to do in Aba
1. National Museum of Colonial History
Located at 6, Ikot Ekpene Rd, this museum covers the colonial history of Nigeria. It is worth the time whether you are on your way to Port Harcourt or simply interested in the period. Entrance is ₦200.
Combine it with Christ The King Cathedral, which is nearby in central Aba.
2. Christ The King Cathedral
This Catholic cathedral is the seat of the diocese of Aba and was built in the 1950s. It stands as a landmark in central Aba.
Pair it with the National Museum of Colonial History on the same outing, since both sit in the centre.
3. Ariaria International Market
Established in 1976 following a fire outbreak that destroyed the old Ekeoha Market in Aba, the market was originally sited in a swampy area. It remains one of the city's major trading grounds.
Go earlier in the day if you want to move through the stalls without the heaviest crowds.
4. Enyimba International Stadium
This multi-use stadium is used mostly for football matches and serves as the home ground of Enyimba F.C. It holds 16,000 people after the installation of seats.
Note that on November 3, 2008 the stadium received a temporary ban after the home crowd attacked referees following a heated 1-1 tie with rivals Heartland F.C. Check the fixture list before planning a visit around a match.
5. Aba Nigeria Temple
This site offers a peaceful and serene environment, with a landscape described as heavenly and a building and amenities that are well maintained. It is an inclusive environment for children and the physically challenged, and it is owned by the Latter Saints of Jesus Christ.
Visit when you want a quiet pause between the market and the stadium.
6. Aba River
The Aba River runs through the city. It is a tributary of the Imo River, which borders between Imo State and Abia State, and its headwaters are in Okpu-Umuobo in the Ngwa heartland.
View it as part of a walk through the city rather than as a standalone stop.
7. Iwaji Festival
Also known as the New Yam festival, Iwaji is the most significant festival in Aba. It is celebrated annually at the end of the rainy season in early August to render thanksgiving to the gods for a good harvest.
It is mostly celebrated at the grassroots level or centrally, 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, and 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, and as mediator between the deities and the villagers the chief celebrant dips a piece of the roasted yam into a bowl of palm oil and eats. Time your trip to early August if you want to see it.
8. Ngwa Day festival
Ngwa Day is a festival celebrated in Aba. Plan around it if your visit coincides with the celebration.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the National Museum of Colonial History on Ikot Ekpene Road, then walk to Christ The King Cathedral in central Aba.
Afternoon: Head to Ariaria International Market to see the trading grounds, then continue to Enyimba International Stadium.
Evening: Close the day at the Aba Nigeria Temple, where the environment is peaceful and serene.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Iwaji Festival held?
It is celebrated annually at the end of the rainy season in early August, as thanksgiving for a good harvest.
How much does entry to the National Museum of Colonial History cost?
Entrance is ₦200.
Which football team plays at Enyimba International Stadium?
The stadium serves as the home ground of Enyimba F.C.
What is the Aba River a tributary of?
It is a tributary of the Imo River, which borders between Imo State and Abia State.
Use these places to sketch your route through Aba and start planning around the season that suits you.