Enugu
Enugu is the capital of Enugu State in Southeast Nigeria.
Understand
The name Enugu is derived from the Igbo words "Hill top". It is nicknamed Coal City.
Get in
The main airport in the state is the Akanu Ibiam International Airport which can be accessed by buses and taxis. Renovations began in 2009 to upgrade it to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft. The construction works is still ongoing and the airport is being prepared for its new status as international airport.
Get around
The main forms of transportation in the city are taxi cabs and buses. Okada (motorcycles), once served as public transportation in the city until the state government banned them from this use in April 2009 Most transport enters and leaves the city through Enugu's Ogbete Motor Park, Garki Motor Park serves as a transport pick-up point as well. Unregistered taxis are known as Kabu Kabu and are differentiated with registered ones through the lack of yellow paint on the unregistered vehicles.
In 2009, Enugu introduced a taxi job scheme under 'Coal City Cabs' to help in the eradication of poverty in the city. 400 registered Nissan Sunny and Suzuki taxis were given out on loan to unemployed citizens in the city who will operate as taxi drivers and will own the vehicles after payments are completed. 20 buses were introduced as Coal City Shuttle buses in 2009 to run as public transport for Enugu urban.
See
- Udi Hills is a great viewpoint from which you can see large parts of Enugu city.
- The Polo amusement park is a funfair that is among the first generation of public parks in the city.
- Enugu's former coal mines, Onyeama and Okpara, are open to public visits.
- Enugu Zoo is another attraction in the city. It is divided into the botanical garden and the zoological section.
- A National Museum is located near Enugu at its north, although it receives few visitors. It is managed by National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).
- Michael Okpara Square.
Do
- Two important Igbo traditional festivals take place in Enugu annually; the Mmanwu festival and the New yam festival. The Mmanwu festival takes place in November and features various types of masquerades that each have a name. This festival is held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium as a parade of carnival-like masquerades that are accompanied by music and it is supported by the Enugu Council of Arts and Culture. The second important Igbo festival, the New yam festival known as 'iwa ji', is held between August and October marking the harvesting and feasting of the new yam. The yam is a root vegetable that is the staple crop and a cultural symbol for the Igbo people.
- Enugu Golf Club, Mount Street, is a beautiful and challenging golf course. More brown than green, but plans are underway to upgrade it to international standards during 2014.
Buy
There are three main urban markets in Enugu: Ogbete Market, Awkunanaw Market and New Market.
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Stay safe
Enugu State is the crime capital of Nigeria - a whopping 70 per cent of respondents in a 2013 survey said they had been victims of crime in the last year. This is not a place to be careless.