16/05/2026
10 Things You Should Know About Enugu
1. Traffic Laws: Traffic laws are very strict in Enugu. You dare not park your car by the side on a major road. You dare not beat traffic lights positioned in almost all parts of the town. If you do, your vehicle will be towed to MOT office or you pay huge fines. Dem nor dey hear 'Abeg'.
2. Relaxed Attitude: The people have a relaxed attitude. They don't rush when doing things. It is common for people to sit in a town-service bus for more than 30 minutes in Enugu, waiting for passengers to fill the bus. My first year in Enugu was uncomfortable because it is something different from what I was used to in Warri. You do not see people rushing to work in the morning, even bankers. Everyone seems to do it slow slow.
3. Peacefulness: Enugu is one of the most peaceful towns in Nigeria. During my 10-year stay, I did not hear or witness any inter-communal clash or anything similar. In fact, I really did not see anyone fighting publicly, except verbal clashes (quarrelling) on few occasions.
4. The Women: Enugu has the most beautiful women in Nigeria. It is only closely followed by Owerri. Out of every 10 young women you see, 6 would be pretty, and the rest might actually look presentable. My neck and my head had a quarrel the first day I landed in Enugu. My neck said my head was stressing it too much, because of the constant turning and looking. As a man, you need to be focused or else, you will get distracted if you allow the beauty of the women to overwhelm you.
5. Enugu is an 'Oringo' Town: You must have heard the singer, Flavour called Enugu 'Oringo' in some of his songs. Oringo is a slang in southeast Nigeria which means 'party'. Enugu is a place where more money is spent than it is made. From Cubana to Toscana, from Trans-Ekulu to Abakpa, from GRA to Independence Layout, from Agbani to Obiagu, it is all about Oringo. Forget it. Enugu is the only place you can see beer parlours and bars opened from morning till night, with people drinking during working hours on weekdays. About 60% of alcohol in southeast is consumed in Enugu.
6. Okpa and Pepsi: In Enugu, they don't joke with Okpa and Pepsi. Okpa is a local food made from Bambara beans. N500 Okpa and one chilled Pepsi will go a long way for the average man on the street. Don't play.
7. Beware of Abakpa at Night: Abakpa is the largest area in Enugu town. It is owned by the Nike people of Enugu-East LGA. It is a place where you find the good, the bad, and the ugly. They are called Abakpa Ndi Nti Ike for a reason. When interpreted in English, it means the set of people that are stubborn and do not heed to advice. Abakpa is a place you can get the cheapest accommodation in Enugu if you are a beginner. It is also a place you need to be careful and mind your business. Nor dey waka waka for inside Abakpa for night, or else boys wey nor get joy go help you keep your property for you.
8. Choice Areas to Live: If you are financially buoyant, the best places to stay in Enugu with good security and road networks, beautiful environment, and magnificent buildings are Trans-Ekulu, Independence Layout, and GRA.
9. Water Issues: Enugu is a hilly place. It is good for hikers, but one issue that the town usually face is water shortage due to the topography. I hope the current governor, Barrister Peter Ndubuisi Mbah will address that soon.
10. Always Cook at Home on Sundays: If you are a bachelor or spinster, make sure you get ingredients on Saturday to cook on Sunday, else na hunger go kpai you. Enugu people don't joke with Sunday relaxation and outing. No matter the profits their business is generating, they don't sacrifice their Sundays for anything. Most shops and restaurants are closed. Even shops where the owners live in same building.
