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Aba is a city in southern Nigeria, located on the Aba River. Originally settled by the Ngwa Tribe of the Igbo people, it eventually became the administrative center of Britain's colonial government. It is a major commercial center in Abia State in south-eastern Nigeria. In 1901, the British founded a military post in it, and in 1915, a railroad was constructed to link it to Port Harcourt, which transported agricultural goods such as palm oil and palm kernels^[1]; in 1929, it was the site of revolt by women, in protest of colonial taxation policy. In 1967, the capital of the short-lived secessionist state of Biafra was moved to Aba from Enugu as Nigerian troops advanced into Biafra. The city of Aba has a current population estimate of 966,001 thousand. ^[2] It is surrounded by oil wells which separate it from the city of Port Harcourt, a distance of about 30 km; a 30 kilometer pipeline powers Aba with gas from the Imo River natural gas repository^[1]. Physically it is well connected, with roads leading to it from Port Harcourt, Owerri, Umuahia, Ikot Ekpene, and Ikot Abasi^[1].

Aba is a commercial city and has the highest number of small scale industries — it is noted for its famous Ariaria market. It is very densely populated and has a high ratio of artisans in its population. As a result of an overwhelming influx of people — resulting from sectarian crisis in the north — in the last three years, the local authorities are no longer able to manage the waste generated. This has made Aba the dirtiest city in Nigeria where people live alongside heaps of garbage. Aba is nicknamed "Enyimba City" which means Elephant city.

Aba is known for making its own products such as dresses, bags, and shoes which are known as "Aba made". However, many people view these products are being cheap and not well made.

Contents 1 Shopping 2 Education 3 Health 4 Transport 5 Sports 6 References

In Aba, there are numerous shopping centers, including the famous Ariaria Market.

Home to a diverse range of primary and secondary schools, Aba has a significant student population. Some of the well known primary schools include Aba-Owerri Rd, Santa Maria, Golf Course, St Bridget, and Abayi Umuocham. There are also a number of well known secondary schools like GTC, Eziama Boys, Ngwa High School, Wilcox memorial secondary school (Comprehensive secondary school, Ogbor hill Aba) Community Girls Secondary School, Secondary Technical School, and many more. There are also numerous private schools with the popular ones as Dority International Secondary School, St Bridget High School and so more The Abia State Polytechnic School of Health Technology and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital are all situated in Aba. You can actually get free education in an informal form. It is also possible to get this sot of service from http://www.brainwave.co.nr or by visiting BRAINWAVE at #7 Umutanze Rd., Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. this organisation also provides free educational consultancy service plus free research materials.

Aba has a number of hospitals including Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Wimpole Clinic, and a number of well run private hospitals.

The city is served by a station on Nigerian Railways. Large network of private transportation like the big luxury buses that ferry people daily to variuos parts of the nation. Second only to Onitsha in mass transportation daily volume in the eastern part of Nigeria.

Enyimba International Football Club of Aba popularly called “The Peoples Elephant” is the town's most popular football club. Enyimba FC's entire winning track-record is the richest among all Nigerian football clubs. With 2 CAF Champions League Trophies, and a number of trophies, won locally, the club is currently ranked 2nd in the CAF Club Rankings and unarguably the most successful in Nigeria with millions of fans across the continent.

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Aba." Encyclopædia Britannica. 20 January 2007
2. ^ "The World Gazetteer". Retrieved on February 20, 2007.

Coordinates: 5°07′N, 7°22′E