Top 10 Things To Do In Aba
Are you looking for things to do in Aba? This article by Hestiene Homes has got you covered. Located in Abia State, Nigeria, the city of Aba is one of Nigeria’s most vibrant and bustling Eastern cities. Known for its thriving commercial scene, which is mixed with a thrilling nightlife, Aba is currently making a comeback as one of the best states to visit for tourism and trade in Nigeria.
Reputed mainly for its commercial prowess, Enyimba is filled with markets, clothing industries, and shoe factories that both residents and visitors from other Nigerian states can benefit from. This makes it a haven for entrepreneurs who are looking to either expand or grow their business.
So, whether you’ll be travelling for business or simply want to visit the city to see what it’s about, we have made a list of the top 10 things you can do in Aba when you get there.
Top 10 Things To Do In Aba
1. Visit the national war museum
2. Visit Ojukwu Bunker
3. Get custom-made shoes at Bakassi
4. Shop at Ariaaria International Market
5. Get your phone fixed at St. Michaels
6. Explore the Azumini River
7. Go to Exclusive By Cubana
8. Attend a Black Box Party
9. See a movie at Cine 21 Aba
10. Watch a live match at Enyimba Stadium.
10 Things To Do In Aba
The new year promises to see more people visit Aba for both tourist and business purposes. You too can join that group by making plans to try any of these 10 things to do in Aba.
1. Visit the National War Museum
If you’re up for a road trip, then visiting the National War Museum is the perfect place to go. Located in Umuahia North, Umuahia, Abia State, the National War Museum was built in 1985. It shows Nigerian military history and houses objects used during the pre-colonial warfare and the Biafran-Nigerian Civil War.
At the museum, you’ll find tanks, armoured vehicles, a ship, and aircraft from Nigeria and the proposed Republic of Biafra. You’ll also find a radio board used by soldiers to communicate and the famed “Biafran Mosquito”, a small bomber plane used by the Biafran forces.
While most of the tanks and AFL are from Biafra, all the aircraft belonged to the Nigerian military forces. Referred to as a heritage site, the National War Museum holds the official story of what happened during the war that took place from 1967 to 1970.
Location: Umuahia North, Umuahia, Abia State.
2. Visit Ojukwu Bunker
The Ojukwu Bunker is a Nigerian Civil War Museum that belonged to Biafran warlord Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu. Also located in Umuahia, Abia State, this bunker, which is also known as the Biafra bunker, served as the office for the Biafran government during the Nigeria Civil War. Today, it is one of the biggest tourist attractions around the world and in Nigeria.
During the Civil War, Biafran troops and the Governor, Lieutenant Ojukwu, escaped to Umuahia, where they used the bunker as a safehouse ot strategise for the war. The bunker was bomb proof and sits close to 27 feet deep underground. When the war ended, the Nigerian government seized the building and made it part of the National War Museum Annexe.
Today, you can visit the bunker to experience it. Your tour will start at the Biafra State House, where you’ll see various items such as the leaders of the Biafran cabinet, battle scenes, military actions, and war captives. The bunker is behind the state house. When you walk in there, you’ll see more pictures of prominent Biafra figures and the entire setup.
Location: Umuahia, Abia State.
3. Get Custom-made Shoes at Bakassi
Most people don’t know this, but Bakassi is one of the largest shoe-producing markets in Nigeria, and when you visit Aba, you’ll see it for yourself. At Bakassi, you can place orders for a custom-made shoe, which the skilled vendors will craft specially for you or buy a ready-made one.
Producing a custom-made shoe at Bakassi is quite affordable, and the shoes are durable, made with the strongest and finest of leather. You can request high heels, Oxford shoes, loafers, moccasins, slippers, sandals, and handbags, too.
This shoe market is also the perfect place for online shoe vendors or boutique owners who are looking for where to get products for their business.
Location: Aba, Abia State.
4. Shop at Ariaria International Market
The Ariaria International Market, AKA the “China of Africa”, is an open-air market powering the city of Aba. Ariaria is one of the largest markets in Africa and is renowned for its ability to produce clothes and leather works.
This market was built in 1976 after a fire outbreak destroyed the old Ekeoha Market in Aba. Ariaria is known for shoemaking, leather works, fabrics, handbags, medical supplies, coral beads and traditional attire. With over two million traders and more than 37,000 stalls, it is the go-to location to find household goods, fabrics and pharmaceutical items.
For over two years, the place has served customers in Nigeria and Aba. Manufacturers in Ariaria say their clientele base goes beyond African shores. Stating that they have people buying from Europe, too.
Location: Osisioma, Aba, Abia State.
5. Get Your Phone Fixed at St. Michael’s
St. Michael’s is the ultimate hub for buying and fixing electronic gadgets in Aba, such as phones, laptops and computers. If you’re a tech enthusiast who loves to buy, sell or fix and flip, then you’ll love going to this place. Vendors at this market also sell and fix musical instruments.
Location: Aba, Abia State.
6. Explore the Azumini River
The Azumini Blue River is one of the most fascinating natural wonders in Nigeria. Spanning across Ndoki. It is blue in colour, but becomes green whenever it rains. This river has quickly become a point of attraction for tourists in Aba and ranks high on the list of things to do in Aba.
Located in Ndoki, Ukwa East LGA of Abia State, Azumini shares a boundary with Akwa Ibom State and used to be an ancient slave trade route known as Mini-Okigo in its local dialect. When visiting the river, you can go canoeing, fishing, or have a picnic with your friends.
Location: Ndoki, Ukwa East LGA of Abia State.
7. Go to Exclusive By Cubana
Aba nightlife just got better and hotter, thanks to the efforts of Exclusive By Cubana. When in Aba, you can expect an unforgettable night by visiting this nightclub, where the energy is pure and vibrant.
Exclusive by Cubana also features a lounge, restaurant, and open space bar, where patrons can go to relax after a long, hard day of hustling in Aba.
Location: 23b Ekenna GRA, Aba, Abia State.
8. Attend a Black Box Party
The Black Box Party is the biggest rave in Umuahia that provides one of the most electrifying experiences that any tourist can have. If you’ll be staying over on your day trip to Umuahia, then you might just be lucky enough to catch a Black Box Party.
Location: No. 1 Bende Road, Umuahia, Abia State.
9. See A Movie at Cine 21 Aba
Cine 21 is Aba’s first and only ultra-modern cinema. It provides entertainment lovers with a serene ambience that features air conditioning, a friendly customer service staff, and the latest movies in Nollywood and Hollywood.
At Cine 21, clients can enjoy mouthwatering snacks such as popcorn, asun, nkwobi, pastries and cakes, coconut and jollof rice, and chilled drinks. This cinema shows movies around the clock.
Location: 10 Factory Rd, Aba, 450101, Abia.
10. Watch a Live Match at Enyimba Stadium
Enyimba International Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Aba that serves as the home of Enyimba FC and hosts most of Nigeria’s football matches. This stadium currently holds over 16,000 people. It has trained many Nigerian football champions and had 3,496 people in attendance during the 2023-24 NPFL edition.
If you are a football lover who would like to see a football match, then seeing a match at Enyimba Stadium should be on your list of top 10 things to do in Aba.
Conclusion
Aba is slowly becoming one of Nigeria’s best cities, as a new government begins the long-awaited development it needed. As the new year begins, a new wave of content creators and entrepreneurs will begin to put this great city on the map. This would make Aba the go-to spot for tourism and commerce.
Also, Governor Alex Otti recently released 20 electric buses in Aba, which will foster movement through the city seamlessly. A means of transportation you can use during your visit.