Ibadan is a city in Southwest Nigeria.

Understand

This is the largest city in the whole of Africa in terms of geographical mass; it used to be the capital of the entire Southwest Nigeria region excluding Lagos, and is now the capital of Oyo State. Its historic significance in the affairs of the declining Oyo Empire have endowed it with a lot of places to see and its location at the edge of the Yoruba heartland makes it an ideal location for an exploration of the major Yoruba cities which might not always have as many developed facilities for the foreigner as Ibadan has.

Get in

Shared cars and buses are available from multiple bus terminals in Lagos for about N1,000 (naira). The journey takes about three hours along the heavily trafficked Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and buses arrive in the southern part of the city. Private taxis can be hired from Lagos from USD30-50.

Regional buses connect Ibadan to all major towns in Southwestern Nigeria, including Abeokuta, Ife, and Oyo. Night buses also connect the city to the north, via Kaduna, Sokoto, Kastina and the east.

By plane

Ibadan has an airport, which is served by domestic carriers only.

• 1 Ibadan Airport. (updated Jul 2020)

By rail

A new higher-speed railway line connecting Ibadan with Lagos via Abeokuta is expected to open in 2020. In the future, the line will be extended to Kano. Initially, there will be hourly trains on the route. Unfortunately, the new railway station is located far north of the city centre, meaning you will have to use a connecting bus or taxi.

• 2 Ibadan railway station (18 km north of city centre). (updated Jul 2020)

Get around

There is an extensive network of minibuses and shared cars. A journey from one end of the city to the other costs around 100 Naira. Okadas (motorcycle taxis) are cheap and available everywhere, though some drivers are erratic.

See

• 1 National Museum of Unity. Better than most of the regional museums Nigeria, the museum at Ibadan has a large collection of art, drums, and Egungun costumes. (updated Jul 2020)
• 2 Agodi Gardens (formerly Agodi Zoological and Botanical Gardens), Secretariat Rd, Mokola Hill. The well-kept tropical garden includes a swimming pool with inflatable balloons (updated Jan 2020)
• Bower Memorial Tower, Oke-Are. 
• The University of Ibadan, Oyo Road. Nigeria's oldest university (established in 1948). The beautiful campus has several places of interest: the Tower Court, Zoological garden, Botanical garden and an ultra-modern guest house. 

Sleep

• Premier Hotel, Mokola Road. 
• Plaza Park Hotel, Bodija Road. Cheap, clean rooms near the university. Secure location, pleasant staff. There is something of a cockroach problem, though. 

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