Asaba ( Igbo: Ahaba) is the capital of Delta State, Nigeria.
In some respects, Asaba and neighboring Onitsha in Anambra State State form a continuous metropolitan region. The First and Second Niger bridges traverse the boundary between Delta and Anambra with the Niger's relatively centralized location in this region marking it as the geopolitical border between Eastern and Western Nigeria.
In October 2023, Asaba joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and was named a UNESCO City of Film.
History
Originally, Asaba consisted of nine quarters but due to internal strife, wars with other communities and slave trade that followed, these quarters were reduced to only 5.
[Esogbue, Emeka Welcome to Asaba, the Beautiful Capital of Delta State Ibusa.net]
The existing quarters are:
-
Umuezei
-
Ugbomanta
-
Umuaji
-
Umuagu
-
Umuonaje
The city of Asaba was once the colonial capital of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate.
It was founded in 1884.
[Letters from Nigeria, D.W. Carnegie, BiblioBazaar, LLC, ] Between 1886 and 1900, it hosted the Royal Niger Company, which the British authorities set up to stimulate trade and the exportation of goods to England.
Owing to Asaba's influential history and geography, and current strategic political and economic influence in Nigeria, Asaba is generally known as the regional capital of the Anioma area and its peoples.
Etymology
Asaba is from the exclamation
Ahabam, meaning
"I have chosen well", a quote from the Nnebisi, the founding father of Asaba.
Geography
Asaba is situated on a terrace of the lower
Niger River in the historic midwest of the country; lying immidiately northeast of the point of confluence with the
Anambra River. Beyond the river banks, on the more extensive high plains and terraced hills, secondary forest vegetation flourishes.
It is sited at the western bank of a key historic point on the river to the extent of cargo navigability, lying northwest to the
Onitsha across. Although the current city lies just north of a marshy floodplain, expansive swaths of undulating, hilly terrain rises west and east of the main city with heights of up to 200m above sea level. The historic Niger River is a historic trans-African link beginning in
Fouta Djallon of
Guinea and flows down into the
Atlantic Ocean.
Asaba forms a connector between western, eastern and northern Nigeria through the Niger River from the north and via the Asaba Niger Bridge, an east–west link and a Nigerian landmark.
Adjoined cities of the Delta State Capital Territory, Ibusa and Okpanam, are located on an escarpment of the upland plateau to the west of the town.
Asaba lies approximately 6 degrees north of the equator and about the same distance east of the meridian; about north of where the River Niger flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Greater Asaba incorporates some of the other neighboring towns and communities such as , Okpanam, Anwai, Iyiba, Oko, Okwe and Ugbolu on the western section of the Niger River. Notable flora of the city the surrounding regions would be the Sapele.
Climate
The mean annual temperature recorded in Asaba is 26.8 °C/ 80.2 °F. On average, 1331 mm/52.4 inch of precipitation falls annually in Asaba.
The Köppen climate classification for the city is
Aw.
Climate change is causing a colder climate with a positive temperature trend, while horizontal trends indicate a decreasing trend.
Asaba experiences two distinct seasons: a warm, oppressive, and overcast wet season from March into late October and a hot, dry season from November into late February. The climate of the region is largely influenced by the prevailing movement and location of the southwesterly and northeasterly trade winds of the Intertropical Convergence Zone ( ITCZ) respectively. Over the year, the temperature typically varies from 67 °F to 89 °F and is rarely below 60 °F or above 92 °F. Based on the beach/pool score, the best time of year to visit Asaba for hot-weather activities is from late November into late January.
Wind
The average hourly wind speed in Asaba experiences significant seasonal variation over the course of the year.
The windier part of the year lasts for 3.9 months, from May 31 to September 27, with average wind speeds of more than 5.8 miles per hour. The windiest month of the year in Asaba is August, with an average hourly wind speed of 7.3 miles per hour. The calmer time of year lasts for 8.1 months, from September 27 to May 31. The calmest month of the year in Asaba is November, with an average hourly wind speed of 4.2 miles per hour.
Clouds
In Asaba, the average percentage of the sky covered by clouds experiences significant seasonal variation over the course of the year. The clearer part of the year in Asaba begins around mid November and lasts for 3 months on average, ending around mid February. The clearest month of the year in Asaba is December, during which on average the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 46% of the time. The cloudier part of the year begins around mid February as a result of the ITCZ system. and lasts for an average of 9 months, ending around mid November. The cloudiest month of the year in Asaba is May, during which on average the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy 85% of the time.
Due to the
Harmattan, the dry season is accompanied with a lot of dust which impedes visibility mid December–February.
Humidity
Asaba experiences extreme seasonal variation in the perceived humidity. The more humid period of the year lasts during the duration of the rainy season, from March to October. This a result of the ITCZ system pushing on humid
Trade winds. The month with the lowest humid days in Asaba is January.
Demographics
The
Anioma people are the native population of Asaba with majority speaking an
Enuani dialect of the
Igbo language. However, the city also houses a number of immigrant ethnicities from other ethnic groups native to and surrounding
Delta State.
Since becoming the administrative capital of Delta State, Asaba has grown in population to an estimated half a million people. Today, it maintains a cosmopolitan population representative of the diverse cultures in Delta State and across Nigeria.
Culture
A city with a storied past, Asaba culture is heavily influenced by the predominant Igbo culture.
Asaba is culturally led by the revered Asagba of Asaba, to whom the leaders (individually referred to as the “Diokpa”) of each of the five Igbo quarters report directly on matters affecting the community.
The Asagba is assisted by the Iyasele of Asaba (
Iyase) who is the customary Prime Minister as well as a council of chiefs and elders (
Olinzele, Otu Ihaza, Oloto etc.)
Economy
Asaba is an administrative area and seat of government established during the time of the Royal Niger Company (now UACN), and is the administrative capital of Delta. Thus civil service leads the economy and economic activities of the city's inhabitants. The Nigerian government through the administration of
Samuel Ogbemudia established the Asaba Textile Mills
and a power substation at Asaba. The city of Asaba hosts some pharmaceutical companies that manufacture medicines and there is also a steel mill within the city. Tourism also attracts revenue into the city, which has resulted to a booming hospitality business. In 2023, the Film Village was opened officially in hopes of boosting the already growing
Nollywood entertainment industry in the city. The city is linked by second Niger bridge to its sister city and largest trading partner
Onitsha and the A232 to
Benin City .
Markets
There are a few major markets in Asaba: Ogbe-Ogonogo Market, Cable Point Market, Infant Jesus Market, Iyanga Market, Midwifery Market and Wazobia Commodity Market
Sport
The Stephen Keshi Stadium at Asaba, which has undergone recent renovations, has hosted several international competitions and soccer events since it was upgraded by the administration of Senator Dr.
Ifeanyi Okowa and commissioned by Nigeria's former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
The stadium is the home of Delta Force FC.
Transport
Air
The city of Asaba and neighboring cities are accessible by air through the Asaba International Airport located just outside of the main city on the A232.
Asaba International Airport was commissioned in 2011 by Delta State Government.[2]
Road
The
A232, more known as the Asaba-Benin Expressway is an important roadway which connects parts of eastern Nigeria with western Nigeria. The Ogwashi-Uku-Ughelli highway which has undergone extensive expansion also connects areas of Asaba with
Ndokwa East country,
Ughelli North and the southern reaches of the state, with the Asaba-Ebu road historically connecting the city with northern Nigeria. Construction has been undertaken south of Oko to build an expressway linking the city of the completed Second Niger Bridge with a link expressway from the riverbank to an intersection on the A232 at Okpanam still undergoing construction. The bridge serves to reduce traffic congestion along the First Niger Bridge and the A232.
Water
Asaba is served by water transportation available through the
Niger River, which surrounds the easternmost stretches of the city. Until the commissioning of the First Niger bridge, the main transportation means across the Niger were
ferry services were provided across to Onitsha via
Cable point. The city is also planned to be serviced by the neighboring Onitsha port located south of the city.
Notable people
==Gallery==
See also
External links
