Where to Go in Nigeria

The South
Lagos
Lagos is a busy and overcrowded city, reputed to be the most expensive in the world. Its commercial and administrative center is on Lagos Island at the heart of the city, linked to the mainland by two road bridges. Ikoyi and Victoria islands are also connected to Lagos Island, and both have wealthy residential areas and beautiful gardens. The National Museum at Onikan on Lagos Island houses numerous exhibits of Nigeria’s ancient civilizations and has a craft center which sells examples of Nigerian craft at fixed prices. In the Jankara Market on Lagos Island you can bargain for locally dyed cotton and handwoven cloth, herbs and leather goods.

The Southwest
Ibadan is famous for its university and its market (one of the biggest in Nigeria). It is a convenient base for trips to the other, more traditional, old towns of the Western State.
The large, traditional town of Oyo has some old Portuguese-style houses and is the site of the capital of the old Yoruba Empire. Oshogbo is the founding center of the internationally renowned school of Oshogbo art and home of the shrines and grove of Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of fertility. The famous Oshun Shrine is to be found here. The Oshun Festival takes place towards the end of August each year.
Ile-Ife, the ancient name of the town of Ife, is the cradle of Yoruba culture, and includes the Ife Museum, which has many fine bronze and terracotta sculptures dating back to the 13th century. The university here is a center for batik-dying. Akure is a good base from which to explore the seven Olumirin Waterfalls.

The Mouth of the Niger
Modern Benin City is a rapidly developing metropolis, but there are a few reminders of its long Yoruba history. The old city’s moat and wall survive in places and the National Museum houses an interesting collection of Benin royal art. The Oba’s Palace is worth visiting, although permission needs to be obtained in Lagos.
Many of the villages in Cross River State are of interest for their handicrafts and traditions of magic, but may only be accessible by foot or canoe. Abaraka, Auchi, Sapele, Sapoba and Warri however, can be reached by road.
Calabar is a pleasant town in a beautiful setting, high on a hill above the Calabar River. Ikot Ekepne is the center for beautiful baskets and carvings, and at Oron there is a museum renowned for its exhibits of Ibibio and Efik carvings. Ikom, on the road to Cameroon, has curious carved monoliths set in circles.
Port Harcourt has long been an important merchant port and is today the center of Nigeria’s oil industry.

The North
Abuja, the new federal capital since 1991, is as yet undeveloped for tourism. It has a beautiful setting which gives magnificent views across the savannah.

Kano
Formerly the largest of the ancient Hausa cities, Kano is today Nigeria’s third-largest city. The walled old town still remains and gives the city a medieval atmosphere, although the city was founded at least 1000 years ago, being of strategic importance on the trans-Saharan trade routes. Kurmi Market has many tourist souvenirs, including the richly embroidered Fulani horse blankets and decorations used at festivals. The famous dye pits (Kofar Mata), still in use and apparently some of the oldest in Africa, are interesting, as is the Grand Mosque. The Emir’s Palace is an outstanding example of Hausa architecture. The city has many colonial-style sporting clubs and good restaurants and nightlife.

Jos
Jos is a favorite holiday center on account of its location (1200m/3900ft above sea level) and pleasant climate. The Jos Museum has a large collection of pottery from all over the country, and the nearby Museum of Traditional Nigerian Architecture holds a collection of full-size replicas representing different styles of Nigerian architecture, including the Kano Wall, Katsina Palace and Zaria Mosque. There is also a small zoo and easy access to such sights as the Assob Falls.

Elsewhere
Kaduna is a government town laid out by the British and has fine buildings and modern amenities. The ancient walled city of Zaria to the north retains much of its old character and has a fine mosque and Emir’s Palace. Outside Katsina, on the border with Niger, are some old Hausa burial mounds and the city is the site of spectacular Sallah festivals (see Special Events in the General Info section).
At Maiduguri, the Sallah festival is held three months after the festival of Eid al-Fitr, during which Borno horsemen demonstrate their equestrian prowess. The town also has a palace, park, zoo and museum.
The area around Lake Chad is flat and prone to flooding during and after the rains. The whole region is of special interest to the ornithologist and nature enthusiast. In contrast, some of the most striking and fascinating mountain scenery can be enjoyed around Biu and towards the Cameroon border.


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