Asaba Things to do, history and what's on
Delta State's capital, on the west bank of the River Niger, facing Onitsha.
About Asaba
Asaba has been Delta State's capital since the state was created in 1991, but its place in the story of the Niger is much older. In 1886 the Royal Niger Company made the town its headquarters, and the timber house built that year, named after the explorer Mungo Park, is now a national museum.
The city sits on the west bank of the River Niger, facing Onitsha across the Niger Bridge, which makes it the main gateway between Delta and the South East. Asaba people speak Enuani, and the town's traditional ruler is the Asagba of Asaba.
Today it is the state's centre of government, with a busy market at Ogbe-Ogonogo, a stadium that has hosted continental athletics, and the river never far away.
- Local government areas
- Oshimili South, with Okpanam and Ibusa in Oshimili North
- Getting there
- Fly into Asaba International Airport, drive in from Benin City, or cross the Niger Bridge from Onitsha
- Best time to visit
- November to March, the dry season
- Languages
- Enuani (a dialect of Igbo), English and Pidgin
Places to visit in Asaba
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Culture and heritage
Mungo Park House
The timber house the Royal Niger Company built in 1886, now Asaba's National Museum.
Asaba -
Culture and heritage
Lander Brothers Anchorage
A riverside memorial to Richard and John Lander, the British explorers who traced the Niger to the sea in 1830.
Asaba riverside -
Nature and waterways
The Niger Bridge
The steel bridge across the River Niger between Asaba and Onitsha, opened in 1965.
Asaba to Onitsha -
Food and nightlife
Ogbe-Ogonogo Market
Asaba's big modern market: yams, spices, smoked fish, fabric and everything in between.
Asaba -
Festivals and events
Stephen Keshi Stadium
The city's main stadium, named after the late Super Eagles captain and coach, and host of the 2018 African Championships in Athletics.
Asaba
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The story of Asaba
From the Royal Niger Company's headquarters in 1886 to the capital of Delta State in 1991, Asaba's history runs along the river.
Read the story of AsabaWhat's on in Asaba
Organising something in Asaba? List your event
Invest in Asaba
As the seat of government and the crossing point to the South East, Asaba's openings are in logistics, hospitality and services.
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Infrastructure and logisticsThe airport and the Niger crossing
An international airport, and the bridge to Onitsha, home to one of West Africa's biggest markets.
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Hospitality and eventsHotels, venues and events
A capital city's calendar of government, sporting and cultural events, and the hotels and venues that serve it.
Talk to people who know Asaba.
Ask questions, find out what's on and buy and sell in the Discover Delta community on WhatsApp.
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How do I get to Asaba?
Fly into Asaba International Airport, drive in on the road from Benin City, or cross the Niger Bridge from Onitsha.
When is the best time to visit Asaba?
November to March, the dry season. The harmattan brings dusty, hazy days from about December to February.
What is Asaba known for?
Being Delta State's capital, its place on the River Niger facing Onitsha, the Mungo Park House museum and the Asagba of Asaba.
