Flights To Owerri

Overview Of Owerri

Owerri is the state capital of Imo State in eastern Nigeria. It is the largest city in the state and contains three local government areas. Imo state, where Owerri is situated, was created in 1976 from the old East Central State by the then dictator, General Murtala Mohammed. Owerri is one of the fastest growing, developing cities after Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria. The people of Owerri and other parts of the state are Igbo, the official language being Igbo too. While most of the inhabitants are christianns, some of the other populace practice traditional religions. Tourist attraction centres in the city include Oguta Lake, Owerri Amusement Park, Nekede Zoo, Mbari Cultural and Arts Centre among several thers. The most popular festival in the area is the Ahiajoku Festival, which is celebrated by all the farming communities. Owerri, and all other parts of Imo State, is served by Sam Mbbakwe Airport. Owerri also produces many agricultural products, such as yams, cassava, taro, corn, rubber and palm products, as well as other natural resources like crude oil.

Best Time To Book Flights To Owerri

As with most airlines, the price of tickets is generally cheaper when they are first sold. It is therefore advisable for travellers to book tickets months before the actual date of departure. Tickets to Owerri may become more expensive during Christmas or new year periods and some other Christian related celebrations. This is because majority of the indigenes of Owerri and Imo at large, are Christians. Asides these periods, prices of tickets do not necessarily rise or fall. Any alteration to ticket fares will be most likely down to economic factors and current exchange rates. Travellers should also be on the lookout for fares on airline websites or booking agencies for any current deals on cheap tickets. It has also been discovered that the best days of the week to book flights are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Best Time To Visit Owerri

Weather Conditions In Owerri

The climate in Owerri is a tropical wet climate. The city experiences rainfalls for most months in the year, only witnessing a brief spell of dry season in between. The earlier periods of the dry season are affected by Harmattan, although less fierce than other cities like Jos.

Annual Events In Owerri

Imo Carnival

Imo Carnival, also known as the ?Celebration of Unity? is a festival which began in 2011 and has now become an annual event which holds from the 16th day of December till the 31st day of the same month. The festival was created to unite all Imo state indigenes in Nigeria and beyond. The festival is a cultural event attended by visitors far and wide, and as a result serves as a way of improving the tourism prospects in the city. Imo Carnival features musical performances from both local and international musicians, Ozuruimo festival, fashion parades, traditional wrestling competitions, and the Okorocha dance.

Owerri Impact Day

The Owerri Impact Day is a bi-annual event organized by the South Seven, a South-Eastern based investment network in partnership with DevEast. The event features innovative entrepreneurs from the state who would pitch technological ideas to the investors in return for 5 million naira.

Ahiajoku Festival

The Ahiajoku Festival is a celebration of the yam gods and the yam festival after the harvest. The festival brings together people from the other six Igbo states and features a lot of intellectual and cultural activities which begins with a traditional parade. Since it rains for most of the year, it would be ideal for travellers to travel with cardigans and rain coats. Lip balms would also be needed during the harmattan period. Travellers should basically take items according to the season they are travelling to Owerri.

Getting Around Owerri

Owerri is a city suitable for pedestrians but it has a variety of transportation options and travellers can find any of them around, depending on their choice or distance.

Taxis

Privately owned taxis are available in the Owerri metropolis. The taxis can be shared or chartered privately. Visitors only need to negotiate transport fares with the drivers as the taxis do not use meters to measure costs. Average costs of taxis range between 100 naira and 200 naira, depending how far the destination is. The taxis can also be chartered for tourist drives around the city, which could be more preferable, whetn the visitors want to visit multiple destinations.

Buses

Public buses are available for commuting to various locations in the city. Travellers would find it more cost effective compared to the taxis and they make stops at a couple of junctions in the area. Travellers do not have to negotiate transport fares as the prices are fixed for specific locations.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles are practically the fastest means of commuting in Owerri and are unaffected by traffic congestion. However, the motorcycles are only ideal for movements over a short distance. Tourists should not court motorcycle drivers for their tourist activities.

Tricycles

Also known as ?keke-na-pep?, the tricycles are another means of transportation and are quite very popular in Owerri, a small upgrade on the motorcycles and a strip-back on the buses and taxis. It is suitable for travellers who do not want to wait for buses to get filled up at bus stops. Carrying a maximum of 4 passengers, tthey can be chartered privately. The price of using the kekes is still reasonable. There isn?t a lot of language barrier when speaking to the drivers as they understand English language, but some of them may reply in pidgin English.

Sam Mbakwe Airport

Sam Mbakwe Airport, also known as Imo Airport, is a public airport serving Owerri, as well as other eastern cities including the Onitsha metropolis, Nnewi in Anambra state, Aba, Umuahia and Arochukwu in Abia State. Others are Okigwe, Oguta, and Orlu business districts in Imo State. The airport also serves some parts of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States in the South South part of Nigeria. It is owned and operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Sam Mbakwe International Airport is the first state-government-constructed airport in Nigeria. The Airport was built and commissioned in 1992 and commenced operations in 1994. The airport was later named after the former governor of Imo State-Chief Sam Mbakwe. The Airport provides flight services to Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Enugu. It receives more than 28 domestic flights weekly. It operates a weekly 2 non-stop flights to 2 cities: Lagos and Abuja. The airport has night landing capabilities, although night flights have been restricted to only passenger flights during pilgrimage (Hajj). The airport currently operates a cargo section known as Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport. The airport is referred to by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) using the airport code QAW. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) uses DNIM when referring to Sam Mbakwe Airport.

Airlines Operating From Sam Mbakwe Airport

The following airlines operate scheduled domestic flights from Sam Mbakwe Airport to various destinations across Nigeria like Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Calabar, Jos, Ibadan, Asaba, Benin City, Uyo, Port Harcourt, and Kano. ? Aero Contractors ? Air Peace ? Arik Air ? Dana Air

Moving From Owerri Airport to Owerri

Arrivals at the city airport would find cabs taxis readily available just outside the Airport to take passengers to various destinations in the city. In addition, motorcycles and tricycles move commuters to different destinations within the City. They are scattered around the major bus stops in Owerri. Taxis: Owerri is a pedestrian-friendly city but taxis are the safest means of moving into the city from the airport. The taxi can be found outside the airport or hailed directly by the roadside. Taxi costs in Owerri city range from 100 naira to 200 naira depending on the distance. The taxis can be shared or hired Tricycles and Motorcycles: Travellers without too much luggage and are travelling short distances can seek the services of motorcycle or tricycle riders. They are faster than the taxis and are rarely affected by traffic.

Staying In Owerri

There are lots, and different, accommodation options for travellers to choose from in Owerri. They are available in any location they are travelling to in the city. Luxury and budget hotels are available and can even be booked before the arrival of travellers. These can be done via hotels.ng

Rockview Hotel

Rockview Hotel is a luxurious 4 star hotel in Plot CP/2-C-5, Government station layout, Owerri, Imo state. Prices of rooms begin at 23,000 naira.

Full Moon Hotel

This is also a 4 star hotel located at H1, Full Moon Avenue, off Akanchawa, road by Nekede junction, housing area C, New Owerri. Prices of rooms begin at 18,550 naira.

Newcastle Hotel

Newcastle Hotel is a budget hotel located in Plot 14, Area A, New Owerri, off Owerri Port-Harcourt Express Way. It is suitable for travellers who want to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city as it is built in a tranquil area. the rooms in the hotel cost as low as 9,000 naira.

De Legend Hotel

De Legend Hotel is an affordable 3 star hotel located on Plot 5044, New Owerri Commercial Layout, New Owerri, Owerri. It is a 15-minute drive for the city airport. Prices of rooms in the hotel range between 7,500 naira and 13,000 naira.

How To Budget A Trip To Owerri

Travellers do not have to be scared of expenses when travelling to Owerri. Household items, restaurants, tourist activities, and transportation costs are generally affordable and less expensive than other major cities of the country.

Cost Of Common Items

Market Items	Average Price (?)
Milk (regular), (1 liter)	120.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)	400.00
Eggs (12)	500.00
Local Cheese (1kg)	1,000.00
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg)	1,000.00
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	1,500.00
Apples (1kg)	1,000.00
Banana (1kg)	1,000.00
Oranges (1kg)	500.00
Tomato (1kg)	500.00
Potato (1kg)	200.00
Onion (1kg)	200.00
Lettuce (1 head)	350.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	400.00
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	1,000.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	400.00
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)	1,000.00
Sports And Leisure
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	18,000.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	1,500.00
Clothing And Shoes
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	2,500.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	7,000.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	8,000.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	15,000.00

 

Cost Of Restaurants In Owerri

The cost of food and drinks in Owerri is relatively cheap as travellers to the city can get a plate of food in restaurants for as low as NGN500 in local restaurants like Nwanyi Anambra, Mimi's Place, Ibari Ogwa and African Chef. There are also restaurants serving dishes from other parts of the Nigeria costing as low as NGN500. The soft drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are sold at the same price they are being sold in other parts of the country. The cost of eating foreign dishes starts from 3000 Naira in intercontinental restaurants like Jevinik, Kilimanjaro restaurant inside Owerri mall, and African Chef.

Domestic Flights From Owerri to Other Cities In Nigeria

Aero contractors operates domestic flights from Sam Mbakwe Airport to Lagos (Murtala Muhammed International Airport) and Abuja (Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport). Dana Air and Arik Air operates singular flights from Owerri to Lagos. Flights from Owerri to any domestic destination in Nigeria starts from NGN25000.

Airline	Destination(s)
Aero Contractors	Abuja, Lagos
Arik Air	Lagos
Dana Air	Lagos

 

Airport Tips At Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri

There are restaurants in the airport where travellers can eat and relax while waiting for their flight. Drinks and snacks can also be bought from some shops. Travellers looking to change currency at the Sam Mbakwe Airport can visit banks where arrivals and departures can exchange currency and do all bank transactions. There are also unofficial traders of currencies stationed outside the airport. For any enquiries, travellers should approach staff at the help desks in the terminal.

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Port Harcourt

Port Harcourt is one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria and a tourist destination for many people. The city attracts a lot of visitors every year. A city of different cultures, Port Harcourt is home to various traditional meals and snacks especially the popular Bole. Visitors in the city would also find commuting very easy due to its well-planned road network. Asides the fun and entertainment, Port Harcourt City is a business destination, too. It contains large organizations, majority of them big oil companies.

Enugu

Enugu is also known as the coal city. Visitors would enjoy the variety of Igbo traditional dishes available in different parts of the city including the popular Isi Ewu soup. Enugu is also home to beaches, caves, waterfalls, hills, and the Ezeagu Tourist Complex that would all make the visit enthralling.

Abuja

The federal capital territory of Nigeria, Abuja is home to the presidential villa, as well as a couple of historical sites including Zuma Rock and its counterpart Aso Rock. No other city in the country is more organized than this city, with the adequately planned transport system and a serene collection of districts. Tourist centres include Millenium Park, Gurara Waterfalls, Wonderland Amusement Park etc. Flights to Abuja depend on where travellers are coming in from. Ticket prices begin at 37,000 naira.