Minna is a peaceful, quiet, and serene place to live or visit. Check for the best tourist attractions in Niger state and have fun.
A drive in the city of Minna is impressive. The roundabouts are well designed, and you can find the Kpakungu roundabout designed as a train station and axial point, which is very beautiful. Minna is a peaceful, quiet, and serene place to live. This is a place where you can create your own fun and get to know people genuinely, and though the city has fewer malls, it offers originality and a chance to blend in with the locals.
The tourist attractions in the state go to places you would not want to miss out in Minna. As the capital of Nigeria's largest state in size, the state is a host to one of Nigeria's finest Universities, agriculture, and mining industries.
Tourist attractions in Minna, Niger state
Have you heard of Zuma Rock, Gurara Falls, Baro Empire Hill, Lord Lugard Colonial Ruins at Zungeru, Nagwamatse Well, And Kainji Lake National Park? These are all situated in the large land mass of Niger state, which is displayed as a host of tourist sites.
The city of Minna is one of Nigeria's prestigious and finest Universities of Technology. FUTMinna, as it is popularly called, is a Federal government-owned University. The university specializes in technological education and offers bachelor's and master's degrees in various technology-inclined fields.
The largest market in Minna is A.A. Bello Ultra Modern Market, which sells various goods. A drive through this market shows it is a busy area with many shops and filling stations, like any market in Nigeria. Other markets to visit are the Bosso market and the Maikunkele market. Try to see these markets to get a feel for the Nigerian market.
- Gurara Waterfalls: Gurara waterfall is approximately 30 meters in height. It lies on the Gurara River along the Suleja-Minna Road. There are myths and folklore, and it is believed that the river is named after two deities called Gura and Rara. The waterfall is a major tourist site in Nigeria. The rocky banks and refreshing waters are the best spots to picnic.
Zuma Rock:Zuma rock is depicted in Nigeria's 100 naira note. This rock is a large natural monolith, or inselberg, an igneous intrusion composed of gabbro and granodiorite in the state. The legend of the rock is said to be of profound spiritual significance. The rock is attributed with healing powers and is a protective guardian to the locals.
- Murtala Park: This park in Minna has a nice ambiance for outdoor activities. It is an avenue for celebrations, picnics, and events. The lush surroundings give you a connection with nature. There are also several pieces of equipment your kids can play with.
- Kainji Dam: The famous Kanji dam is located in the Kainji lake across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. A tour of this dam means you're visiting where it generates electricity for all the large cities in Nigeria and can generate a capacity of 960 megawatts from 12 turbines. The dam and lake are also used for irrigation purposes and local fishing. This dam earned the state the nickname “The Power State.”
A Visit to Minna
Getting to Minna is mainly by road. Abuja, the country's Federal Capital Territory, is 150 km away. The total driving time from Abuja to Minna is 1 hour, 38 minutes.
The Minna airport (Bola Ahmed Tinubu Airport) is 10 kilometers northwestern of the city. The closest international airport is Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The calculated flying distance from Abuja to Minna is 75 miles, and the travel time is almost 01 hours 26 minutes.
The town is known for its railway history, which can be traced to the Kano-Baro track in 1905. The city is connected by railroad to Kano in the north and Ibadan and Lagos in the south.
What is the climate like in Minna, Niger state?
As a typical Middle Belt city with a tropical savanna climate, Minna has a humid climate during the rainy season and an arid, dusty, harmattan-dominated dry season from November to April. This means the best time to visit Minna is around the year's middle months.
You can visit Minna all year round and make it an experience by having leisure time in sites like the iconic Gurara Waterfalls, Kainji Dam, or the Zuma Rock, or hiking any hills, which is worthwhile.
Fact about Minna
The two major ethnic groups in Minna are the Gbagyi and the Nupe peoples.
Minna is the home state of two of Nigeria's former military presidents, Gen. Ibrahim B. Babangida, and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The main religions in Minna are Christianity and Islam.
Niger State is Nigeria’s state largest in size, with a land mass of 76,363 square kilometers.
From the 2006 census, Minna has a population of over 304,113.
The trend of literary and book art festivals in Nigeria can be traced to Minna in May 1995.
Minna was best known in the past for its woven and dyed cotton cloth, raffia mats, and baskets, pottery, and brassware. The modern industry includes a brick-making plant and a marble quarry.
When are you visiting?
There is much to explore in the city of Minna, the capital of Niger state, from the rocky banks of Gurara waterfall to the surge of Kainji Dam, the peace of Murtala Park, and the steepness of Zuma Rock.
Set a date on your calendar to explore Nigeria's power state. When are you visiting? Don't miss out.