Aba is the Commercial Capital of Abia State

About Aba

Aba is the largest city in Abia State and one of the most commercially significant cities in southeast Nigeria. The city has a population in the millions and is the trading and manufacturing hub of the Igbo heartland.

Aba is globally known for its textiles, garments, shoes and leather goods. The city's manufacturers produce goods that are exported across West Africa, and its entrepreneurs have built businesses that serve the Igbo diaspora worldwide.

Distance from Abia Airport

Aba is approximately 45 to 60 km from the Abia Airport site by road. The journey is expected to take 45 to 70 minutes once the access road network is complete. This will make Abia Airport significantly more accessible than the current options of Owerri (65 km) and Enugu (130 km).

Ariaria International Market

Ariaria International Market is one of the largest markets in West Africa and the commercial centrepiece of Aba. It is the hub of the city's textiles and manufactured goods trade, drawing buyers from across Nigeria, West Africa and the diaspora. A visit to Ariaria is a remarkable experience, an enormous, energetic market with thousands of stalls across multiple sectors.

The Aba Made Brand

"Aba Made" is a quality designation for locally manufactured products, particularly clothing, footwear and leather goods. Aba's manufacturers have historically competed with imported goods on price and increasingly on quality. The opening of Abia Airport is expected to significantly improve export logistics for Aba's manufacturers, enabling faster and cheaper access to international markets.

Getting to Aba

Until Abia Airport opens, travellers typically arrive via Owerri Airport (Sam Mbakwe), approximately 65 km away, or Enugu Airport (Akanu Ibiam), approximately 130 km away. Road transport from both airports is available. The Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway provides the main arterial road connection to Aba.