Jalingo
Jalingo is a city in North East Nigeria. It is the administrative capital of Taraba State.
Understand
The word "Jalingo" means "superior place". Jalingo has been estimated to have a population of 118,000. After Gongola state was divided into Adamawa and Taraba states, Jalingo became the state capital of Taraba in 1991. The city is largely dominated by Fulanis and other small secondary ethnic groups. Jalingo falls in the savanna-covered foothills of the Shebshi Mountains which is about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of the Benue River. In the north, Jalingo shares borders with Bauchi and Gombe states; on the west, it shares with Benue, Nassarawa, and Plateau states; and to the east and south, Adamawa state and Cameroon respectively.
Climate
Jalingo has a climate of Tropical Savanna with an annual average temperature of 34 °C like other states of the country bordering it.The temperature in Jalingo is usually as high as 40 °C during the dry seasons and as a result, intending visitors and tourists who are allergic to extreme weather conditions are counselled to visit the city betwwen the month of May and September when the weather in the City is at its coolest and more favourable.
Get in
Getting into Jalingo can be facilitated by a couple of means. These means include the following:
By plane
1 Jalingo Airport (Danbaba Danfulani Suntai Airport). Jalingo Airport (ICAO: DNJA) was renamed Danbaba Danfulani Suntai Airport. 
Intending travellers and visitors coming in to Jalingo might want to travel using this airport. The Jalingo airport passed through a serious upgrading that was completed in 2014. The airport can be accessed directly by a number of local airlines from different parts of the country. The total cost of travelling to Jalingo by air from different places within Nigeria is approximately N18,000.
By bus
The capital city is closely linked by Road to neighbouring Cities and States which are; Gombe, Yola, and Bauchi. Numerous road transport companies provide shuttle services from these proximate towns and other parts of the country to the area. Notable among these road transport companies include; the Waidun Ahadun Transport Company and the Mallam Mohammed Transport services with a Bus Park located at at no 18 Majidadi Road and another terminal/bus park at the Millionaire street in the Government Reserved Area axis of Jalingo respectively. The cost of travelling to Jalingo by road from locations in the Northern part of Nigeria is around ₦2,500.
Get around
The city is can be accessed by road transport and the Benue River which runs into Jalingo also creates another means for river transport.
Several smaller transporter service providers also transport people from other parts of Jalingo. The average cost of travelling to Jalingo by Road from places in Northern Nigeria is ₦2500 (2021).
Getting around the city of Jalingo is made easier by a couple of intra-city transport providers such as the commercial motorcycle popularly known as Achaba, tricycle operators, and the minibuses as well as taxi Cab drivers. The cost of a trip from one point in the city to another by any of these intra-city transport options is about ₦70 at least (2021).
See
The city offers vsitors an interesting centres of tourist attractions. Some of these landmarks are situated within the City while some others are just on the outskirts of the city. Prominent among these tourist attractions include the following:
- Mambilla Plateau
- The Gashaka-Gumti National Park and
- The Marmara Crocodile Pond in Wukari, proximate to the city.
- The JH3 Water Fall (Baraya's Valley) of Mallam Audu, Yorro LGA
- 1 Tashan Lau Park. It is a theme park with lovely serene ambience. Clean air and a tourist delight.
Do
There is a popular annual festival that takes place in Jalingo.
It is known as Asamu Festival. It is a festival held yearly in Kona-Jalingo Local Government Area.
Buy
There are several markets and supermarkets located in Jalingo city. Some prominent ones among them include the following below:
- Jalingo New Modern Market; The Jalingo new modern market is Located along the Jolly Nyame way. it is a market from where buyers can purchase foodstuff, cheap clothing, and household provisions at ease.
- 1 Huj Boutique and Supermarket, Opposite Assemblies of God Church, Donga Road. Offers in-store shopping.
- 2 Zakiyya provision center, No 12: anguwan Fulani. The centre is a provision market.
- 3 ZiziPator Local Market, opp. Tsu mini campus Gate, ☏ +234 903 339 3143. 24 hours. The market provides in-store shopping, curbside pickup and delivery services.
- 4 Adamu trader seller center, No 41: nyabukaka. A produce market.
- 5 Royer Rice Farm, baypass 660243. A produce market.
- 6 Fatima Food Store, Kasuwan Yelwa Market, Palace Way. A produce market.
- 7 Maryam provision and custometic store, No 21: nyabukaka.
Eat
- 1 Nature's Own Restaurant, ☏ +234 803 667 5999. Daily 8AM - 9PM. It serves only African cuisines. The restaurant offers takeout and delivery.
- 2 A.I.M, ☏ +234 706 056 4935. Daily 6:30AM - 10PM. They offer dine-in, delivery and takeout service options.
- 3 Golden Menu Restaurant, ☏ +234 803 440 6364. Daily. Dine-in, takeout and delivery service options.
- 4 Cuisines Dè Lush, ☏ +234 907 783 6265. M-Sa 8AM-7PM, Su noon-7PM. Dine-in, takeaway, and delivery service options are available to customers.
- 5 Ostrich Bakery, No. 28 Barde Way. Daily 7AM - 10PM. A fast food restaurant where customers can either dine-in, order for delivery or opt for takeout.
- 6 New System Cuisine, Agada Attah, ☏ +234 806 386 7624. M-Sa 8AM - 9PM, closed on Su. Dine-in, takeaway and delivery service options.
- 7 Celehany's Kitchen, 27 Barde way (beside PDP Secretariats), ☏ +234 703 367 5724. 24/7. They offer takeaway and delivery service options. Customers can also enjoy the view while dining in.
- 8 The HangOut, The HangOut Close, Adjacent Investment Quarters, T.H.U, FGGC Junction, ☏ +234 708 197 4053. Daily. A barbecue restaurant. If you want to enjoy the setting, then it is best to visit at 10PM as it is less crowded at that hour.
Drink
Popular drinks in the North that you can get in Jalingo include:
Kunu, also known as "kununzaki": a popular drink that is made from grains such as millet, sorghum, and maize. When it is made from sorghum, it is a milky light-brown colour. When it is made from millet or maize, it is whitish.
Kunun gyada, also known as "groundnut milk", is a light porridge made from raw groundnuts and rice. It is similar to akamu/pap/ogi, which is consumed in the southwestern region of the country.
Zobo: This is a popular drink mostly taken cold. It is made from dried Roselle plant flowers. The bright red drink is made from a boiled combination of dried Roselle plant, ginger and pineapple. Some might add sugar to taste.
Fura da nono: Fura is millet dough balls. The word 'Nono' in Hausa means "cow’s milk". To make fura da nono, the millet dough balls are added to the cow's milk or yoghurt, and sugar is added to taste.
Sleep
- 1 Fast Track Hotel, Nyamu Sala Street (behind Muslim Council), ☏ +234 906 396 8882. This is a 2-star hotel with free parking and has a bar/lounge. The hotel does not have Wifi and meals are at an extra charge. The bathroom and toilet in each room are joint.
- 2 Shield Hotel. This is a 3-star hotel. There is an elevator, gift shop, event hall, a business center, a swimming pool, a golf course, beauty salon and an ATM.
- 3 Star Exclusive Hotel, Opposite Taraba State University, Along Bali - Jalingo Road, ☏ +234 808 762 6382. Check-in: 6PM, check-out: 6PM. Restaurant and bar/lounge, 2 outdoor pools, Nightclub. and Free airport shuttle. pool, parking space, children's pool, and pets are allowed.
- 4 Sanaf Hotel & Suites, Opposite Catholic, Cathedral Mile 6. The hotel offers Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Security, Air Conditioning, 24 Electricity, Adequate Parking, Luggage Storage, Event Hall, Business Centre, Meeting Rooms, Business Center, Dry Cleaning, and Clothing Iron. The prices for rooms are Studio - ₦6,900, Standard Suite - ₦8,050, Deluxe - ₦9,200, V.I.P Suite - ₦13,800, Executive Suite - ₦17,250.
- 5 Balfa Hotel, Old Magami Quarters, Waziri Road, ☏ +234 813 805 1732. A 3-star hotel.
- 6 Muri Hotel, 16, Hammatawa Way, ☏ +234 803 073 0567. A 3-star hotel.
Connect
In Jalingo, you can find coverage of 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G mobile networks.
Network providers like MTN, Airtel, 9mobile and Glo also have their outlets located in Jalingo.