Travel Information
-> Local Transportation
-> Visa Information
-> Climate and Weather
-> Tourist Information
Local Transportation
The local transportation will be assured by the local hosting organizations (NASRDA and NWRI) using their buses and cars:
- Abuja airport -> Hotel in Abuja: by National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)
(please advise the Workshop Secretariat of your arrival date and time). - Hotel <-> Venue in Abuja: by NASRDA
(schedule will be provided upon arrival to the Hotel). - Hotel in Abuja -> Field Trip -> Hotel in Kaduna>: by National Water Resources Institute (NWRI)
- Hotel <-> Venue in Kaduna: by NWRI
- Hotel in Kaduna -> Abuja (aiport/hotel): by NWRI
(please advise the Workshop Secretariat of your departure date and time).
Visa Information
Application for Nigerian Visas can now be completed online from anywhere on the globe. Application guidelines are also available online. Please visit the Nigeria Immigration Service Portal for further information.
Visa Application Requirements
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Duly completed visa application form
- Two recent passport photographs
- A Letter of invitation from NASRDA accepting immigration responsibility. Will be issued upon request sent to:
Mr. Jide Ajayi:
E-mail: jajayi@nasrda.net; ajayijide2000@yahoo.com or ajayijide@hotmail.com
Phone: +234-802-340-1381, +234-807-584-9733 or +234-(9)-2342203
Fax: +234-(9)-4132624
Participants are requested to contact Mr. Ajayi by yourself and provide him with a copy of your passport data page, which is essential for preparing the visa letter. The procedure may take some time and thus your early submission is greatly appreciated. - Visitors/tourists are required to show evidence of sufficient funds
- Evidence of online payment for visa fee (in case you made an on-line application)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who needs to apply for Nigerian entry visa?
Everyone who wishes to enter Nigeria, regardless of their purpose of visit and intended length of stay, need to apply for Nigerian entry visa except nationals of ECOWAS countries.
* ECOWAS countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote DfIvoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal,
Sierra Leone and Togo.
2. Can I get visa on arrival at a Nigerian airport?
No. You need to apply for visa before your departure at the nearest Nigerian Mission of your residence.
3. For how long is the visa valid?
The Visa is valid within 3 months from the date of issue for presentation at a Nigerian port.
4. When is the best time to apply for visa?
Within 1 month from your departure is reasonable to submit your visa application. It should not be more than 3 months before your departure.
5. Yellow fever vaccination certificate (Yellow card) is no longer included in visa requirements. Does that mean I will not be requested to show the yellow card at the point of entry?
No. You will not be requested to show yellow card at the point of entry. You therefore have the choice to take yellow fever vaccination or not. We, however, recommend that you take anti-malarial drugs before travelling to Nigeria.
6. Where can I take/buy anti-malarial drug?
Please contact your country Quarantine office or other relevant institution.
Climate and Weather
Abuja under Koppen climate classification features a tropical wet and dry climate. The FCT experiences three weather conditions annually. This includes a warm, humid rainy season and a blistering dry season. In between the two, there is a brief interlude of harmattan occasioned by the northeast trade wind, with the main feature of dust haze, intensified coldness and dryness.
The rainy season begins from April and ends in October, when daytime temperatures reach 28 C (82.4 F) to 30 C (86.0 F) and nighttime lows hover around 22 C (71.6 F) to 23 C (73.4 F). In the dry season, daytime temperatures can soar as high as 40 C (104.0 F) and nighttime temperatures can dip to 12 C (53.6 F). Even the chilliest nights can be followed by daytime temperatures well above 30 C (86.0 F).
The high altitudes and undulating terrain of the FCT act as a moderating influence on the weather of the territory. Rainfall in the FCT reflects the territory's location on the windward side of the Jos Plateau and the zone of rising air masses. Due to the hilly and mountainous nature of Abuja city, Orographic activities bring heavy and frequent rainfall of about 1,500 mm (59.1 in) during the rainy season. Beginning in March to November,the rainy season peaks in September, during which abundant rainfall is received in the form of heavy downpours.
Tourist Information
Abuja
Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, is located in the central part of the country. Plans were approved in 1976 to move the capital from Lagos. In the 1980s, the new, planned city was built and Abuja became the official capital of Nigeria in 1991. Today Abuja is the heart of Nigeria's diplomatic activity and serves as a convenient gateway for visiting the rest of the country. It is a modern and attractive city built between two rock formations, the Zuma and Aso Rocks.
Zuma Rock is known as the "Gateway to Abuja" and marks the beginning of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is reported to be the geographical centre of Nigeria. Aso Rock towers some 400m above sea level. The Abuja Plant Nursery at the foot of Aso Rock is a botanical garden with an interesting collection of diverse plants. The palatial residence of the President of Nigeria known as Aso Rock Presidential Villa encompasses Aso Rock and is situated in the Three Arms Zone of the Abuja metropolis.
Abuja is home to several parks and green areas with the largest one being Millennium park. Millennium Park was designed by world renowned architect Manfredi Nicoletti and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. Ministers Hill in the Maitama District offers spectacular panoramic views. The Dutse range just off Keffi-Suleja expressway is a wildlife sanctuary for baboons.
Diverse architecture is evident in the city's many notable buildings including the National Mosque, the National Christian Centre and the National Stadium. Daily markets throughout the city offer everything from pottery to local fruits and breads.
Kaduna
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State located in north-central Nigeria. Founded by the British in 1913, Kaduna was the capital of Nigeriafs former Northern Region from 1917 until 1967. Its location on the Kaduna River makes Kaduna a major trade center and transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural area. The Kaduna River is a tributary of the Niger River which flows for 550km through Nigeria.
Kaduna State occupies the area that was home to the earliest civilization in Nigeria, the Nok. The Nok civilization appeared in Nigeria around 500BC and mysteriously vanished around 200 AD. Pieces of ancient pottery were found on the Jos Plateau in 1928 during excavations for tin mining.
The area is rich in minerals including clay, serpentine, asbestos, amethyst, kyanite, gold, graphite and siltimanite graphite. Kaduna is an industrial centre of Nothern Nigeria, producing textiles, machinery, steel, petroleum products, bearings and alumunium.
Visit Luggard Hall and Government Monument Bridge, General Hassan Usman Park, the Man-Made Lake at Kaduna, Nok Terra Cotta, Nok Village and Emir of Zazzaufs Palace. The National Museum has some interesting cultural and pre-historic exhibits. Outside the museum, visitors can watch artisans at work at the recreated Hausa village and may purchase their finished products.
The area is well known for its exceptional pottery. Shop for pottery at Jacaranda Pottery or view the pieces on display at Maraban-Jos. Kaduna has several markets, the largest of which was rebuilt after an extensive fire in the mid-1990s. Here one may purchase printed cloth, leather ware and fresh produce.