Nsukka is a notable urban area in Enugu State which is a South Eastern Nigeria. Nsukka lies in the Udi Hills.
Nsukka is also a Local Government Area in Enugu State. The local government headquarters is sited at the hilly and green areas that Nsukka is known for, close to the colonial quarters of the pre-Independence era. Towns like Edem, Opi (prominent archaeological site), Ede-Oballa and Obimo share a common border with Nsukka. People of Nsukka can also be found in Kogi state which is a neighbouring state.
In the 18th and 19th century, Nsukka had one of the best fighting forces in present-day Enugu-North which they made use of in waging war against their neighbours in a bid to gain more territories for their rising population and for other economic and socio-political purposes. Each community that made up the town of Nsukka had positioned in them a fighting force made up of people from that community who are very capable and gallant. Nri Kingdom had once had a contact with Nsukka in earlier periods. Nontheless, in the book titled 'Igbo/Igala Borderland', the author, an ancient American writer traced the origin of Nsukka town to the earlier traders from Arochukwu in the present Abia State, who initially rested and later had a settlement in the area.
Nguru is known to be the traditional head of Nsukka town and therefore the first amongst the villages in Nsukka when it comes to selection or choosing things, including kola nut and land. Nsukka is one of the safe homelands of members of the Igbo ethnic group
In 2006, Nsukka had a population of 309,633. The prestigious first indigenous University of Nigeria, is located at Nsukka was founded in 1960 by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, first President of Nigeria. The area has a number of reputable Federal Parastatals in the university like NABDA, CBSS, and the Energy Research Centre.
There are so transportation means through which prospective visitors and tourists to Nsukka can use in getting to the City. These include:
Prospective visitors wishing to access Nsukka by Air would have to make use of the Akanu I-beam International Airport, Emene, Enugu and from there complete the 30 minutes’ road drive to Nsukka town through the Ugwogo Nike road axis. The average cost of getting to Nsukka by air from different parts of Nigeria is approximately ₦21,000 or even more.
Numerous transport companies offer bus shuttle services from different parts of Nigeria to Nsukka. Prominent among these transport companies are the Peace Mass Transit and the Ifesinachi Mass Transit with their fully operational bus parks within the Nsukka Urban metropolis as well as Royal Mass Transit and God is Good transport company. Several small shuttle operators also convey people from different parts of Enugu and its environs to Nsukka. The approximate cost of travelling by road to Nsukka is ₦7,000 from the South West region, ₦10,000 from the North and ₦1650 naira the South Eastern parts of the country.
Several neighbouring states have a rail connection with Nsukka in country Benue and Kogi States inclusive. Nevertheless, the railway sector in Nigeria has not been at optimum levels in the 21st century leading to a decline in the number of persons travelling to Nsukka through rail transport system.
There are a number of options available to visitors in Nsukka to move around within the city. These intra-city transportation options include the tricycles popularly known as “Keke napep”, the minibuses, and the taxi shuttle service providers and the commercial motorcycle riders also known as “Okada”. The average cost of these intra-city transport options is approximately ₦150. Howbeit, if the tricycles or taxi cabs are hired for personalized services, the costs increase to ₦500-1000 as the case maybe.
Nsukka comprises a number of towns and villages, including Enugu-Ezike, Opi, and Obollo Afor. Nsukka as a city has a Tropical Savanna Climate with an annual average temperature of 32 °C.
Asides the prestigious and indigenous university of Nigeria in Nsukka, there are other interesting places to behold Nsukka. These include the Opi Lake Complex which comprises 8 natural lakes that form a waterfall, the Onuiyi Haven which was the resident abode of Nigeria’s first President, late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral Church which is a gigantic and outstanding architectural masterpiece that has the capacity to accommodate hundreds of Christian worshippers at a time.
Nsukka has a number of spots where visitors can sample a taste of the city’s amazing cuisines plus other foreign dishes. The city’s popular foods, Okpa and Abacha, mostly sold by hawkers and roadside food vendors. Howbeit, these plus other meals can also be gotten from the conventional restaurants within the town.
The approximate cost of a plate of food from the highbrow restaurants is ₦750 while the average cost of a plate of food from hawkers and roadside food vendors in Nsukka is ₦250.
Some of the prominent eating spots are:
Travellers and visitors who wish to move around Nsukka town with motorbikes or taxi vehicles should endeavour to wear safety helmets and nose masks to avoid serious head injuries in the event of a crash occurring and also to avoid being infected with the of the dreaded Corona Virus disease.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division