Wukari

Wukari is the name both of a local government area in Taraba State, in north eastern Nigeria, and of its main town. This article covers both.

Understand

The Donga River flows through the town and the River Benue creates a boundary to the northwest with Nasarawa State. The Jukun people, also called the Kororofawa were established in the area as early as the 17th century. In the 14th century, the Jukun people were tools of campaigns by the Kano rulers.

Wukari as a word in the Jukun dialect, which simply means "a better place", presumably better than all the places they had ever been for which course hence chose to make the area their permanent dwelling place. The area is a quite lively full of numerous business establishments and commercial activities.

The area has an estimated population of about 687,000.

Climate

Wukari has a tropical savanna climate with an average annual temperature of 33 °C.

Get in

Visitors as well as travellers to Wukari town have a couple of transport options for getting into the town. These transport options include:

By plane

The airport at Jalingo in Taraba State has close proximity with Wukari. Travelers to Wukari who might want to embark on their journey by air travel can make use of this airport and upon arrival complete the short road trip from Jalingo to Wukari. On the other hand, preferable airports accessible to individuals traveling to the city by air include the Jos and Yola Airports in Plateau State and Adamawa State respectively. The cost of traveling by air to Wukari from different parts of the country is ₦18,850 approximately.

By bus

Wukari is linked by road to neighboring cities like Jalingo, Plateau, Gombe, Yola, and Bauchi. A couple of bus mass transit companies in the country offer shuttle services to Wukari. Notable among these transport companies are:

• The Enugu transport Company (Entraco); which transports travellers to Taraba from states in the South Eastern region of the country and
• The Benue Links; that offers shuttle services to travellers wishing to get to Taraba from the North Central parts of the country.
• A bus leaves from Abuja at 7am, taking 7 hours to reach Wukari.

The cost of traveling to Wukari from the South Eastern states of the country is approximately ₦5,500 and ₦2,000 from the North Central parts of Nigeria.

Get around

Getting around the city or intra-city movement within Wukari is made easier by the motorcyclists, the tricycle or Keke Napep riders, the mini buses and commercial buses drivers as well as the taxi cab drivers. These transport service operators ply appointed routes transporting passengers from one point of the city to another at a standard charge of ₦100. Nonetheless, higher charges are procured when the services are chartered.

See

Wukari city offers numerous interesting landmarks and tourist attractions to provide visitors to the city. Some of the tourist attraction centres are located within the city whereas some others just on the outskirts of the city. Notable among these attraction centres include:

• The Marmarra Crocodile Pond; this pond houses a number of crocodiles. These crocodiles have a myth of not attacking human beings.
• The Wukari Games Reserve where several wild animals roam about in a natural setting devoid of human interference.
• 1 Royal Palace of the Aku-Uka of Wukari, ☏ +234 805 467 9748. (updated Jul 2022)
• The Federal University Wukari
• The Kpambo and Fikyu Rock formations
• The Barup Timga Waterfalls
• The Bitako Hills

Do

Wukari also has quite a good number of festivals which celebrate the town's rich cultural heritage. Prominent among these festivals include:

• The Nwonyo Fishing Festival and
• The Puje Festival

Buy

Wukari has very popular markets which are all situated within the city's municipal, where visitors to the city can purchase a variety of commodities. These markets include:

• The Yam Market and
• The Rada Kada Main Market; This market provides visitors a wide variety of commodities which include: foodstuff and assorted household equipment.

There are also other shopping centres where visitors to Wukari can go shopping and purchase a variety of items and commodities within the city. Some of these shopping centres include:

• The Bakers Shop; This shopping centre is located at No 1 Awetato street. At this place, visitors can purchase a variety of baking equipments such as baking pans, baking oven as well as condiments used in baking like eggs, flour, icing sugar and the rest of them.
• Zicson shopping centre; This shopping centre is located No. 42A Dikko Sambo Street. Visitors get to purchase a vast variety of commodities ranging from household provisions, small gadgets as well as fashion accessories at this shopping centre.
• Linco shops; This is another notable shopping centre in the town of Wukari.

There are also a couple of supermarkets located in Wukari. Some of the notable ones include:

• 1 Sochi Store, Wukari-Takum Rd, ☏ +234 703 345 9020. 8AM - 10:30PM. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Kwararafa Shopping Mall, Takum Junction Wukari (Wukari-Takum Road and Zaki Biam-Wukari Road), ☏ +234 703 273 3333. 8AM - 6PM. (updated Jun 2021)

Eat

Wukari people are well known for local dishes such as the Tuwo Shinkafa, Fura and Suya.

In Wukari town, food can be bought from roadside vendors, food hawkers and also eateries or restaurants. The City has a good number of eateries where visitors and travellers to the State can purchase a variety of indigenous as well as foreign delicacies. Some of these eateries include restaurants and fast food spots which are:

• We-can Café; The café offers various kinds of food and drinks.
• The Mararraba Kichen; This eatery is situated at No 1 Buban Mararraba Street. At this eatery, customers can savor a variety of homegrown as well as foreign dishes.

The cost of a plate of meal in Wukari is not less than ₦300.

• 1 Kudi's Place, Wukari-Numan Road. The eatery provides Dine-in and take-away service options. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Pan-Latin Restaurant, No 2 New sike, Tankun Road. (updated Jun 2021)

Sleep

There are a wide variety of accommodation options spread across different budget categories available to visitors in Wukari town to lodge. Prominent among these lodging options include:

• 1 Eden Hotel, Old Bantaje Road. (updated Jun 2021)
• Karofi Hotel, Camp By Federal University. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Agyo Central Lodge, 1 Agbukenjo Street. (updated Jun 2021)
• 3 Rohi Grand Suites, Abonta Drive, G.R.A. (updated Jun 2021)
• 4 Achuman Resort Hotel (Opposite Christ Anglican Church). (updated Jun 2021)
• Jankada Motel, No 2 Jankada Avenue. (updated Jun 2021)

Stay safe

wukari is a safe place to be, however there has been previous war and anarchy within the state years back.wukari has police stations all round the area for security purposes.

Connect

There are telecommunications outlets located in Wukari town. These telecommunication companies include; 9Mobile and MTN network companies.

• 1 9mobile SIM Registration Centre, Jacob Communications 11 Old Bantaje Road, near Mtn Office, ☏ +234 816 677 5655. 8AM - 5PM. (updated Jun 2021)

• MTN Connect Store, ☏ +234 803 203 0262. (updated Jun 2021)