Lafiagi

Lafiagi was founded in 1810 by Malam Maliki and his brother Manzuma, two Fulani leaders from Gwandu, 250 mi (400 km) north-northwest, as a fortified town in Nupe territory. Following Maliki’s death in 1824, the Emir of Gwandu named Manzuma as Lafiagi’s first emir. The Lafiagi emirate survived serious Nupe revolts in the late 1820s and again in the late 1890s, with the aid of the forces of the Royal Niger Company. The Lafiagi ruler, whose title was changed from emir to chief in 1949, has served since 1954 as the chairman of the Federated Council of Lafiagi, Sharagi, and Shonga (20 mi northwest), founded by Maliki’s son, Aliyu. Lafiagi is now the headquarters of the Edun Local Government Council. Most of the traditional emirate’s inhabitants are Muslim Nupe people.

A market centre for rice, yams, sorghum, millet, corn (maize), sugarcane, kola nuts, peanuts (groundnuts), palm produce, fish, cattle, and cotton, the town is also a collecting point for the rice grown on the fadamas (“floodplains”) of the Niger and for dried fish. Cotton and tobacco are local cash crops, and cotton weaving is traditionally important. Lafiagi has a government maternity clinic and dispensary. Pop. (2008 est.) 30,976.

You can fly in from other Nigerian cities (Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna).

The Ilorin international airport is also used for domestic flights to other cities within the country and international flights to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah.

Rail services in Nigeria are still very slow and unreliable but several routes have reappeared. Nigerian Railway Corporation have daily services from Ilorin via Ibadan, and an overnight service from Kano via Kaduna a few times per week. A new higher speed railway is under construction and is expected to be completed in the 2020s, resulting in increased speeds and frequency.

Several bus companies like Young Legacy, Mufsuf Motors, Kasmag line, Okin Express offers daily services from almost all major cities (Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna, Kabba, Lokoja, Sokoto, Kano, Makurdi, etc.) around the country. While buses usually are quite comfortable, journey times are very long.

There are also independent transporters under the aegis of the national union of road transport workers (NURTW) and road transport employees association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in various parks, such as Post Office, Offa garage, and Maraba who travel to various towns within and outside the state. From Ilorin you can only board a bus to Lafiagi. Buses are available in all terminals.

Ilorin now has decent mass transit buses, courtesy of the Maigida Soludero Mass Transit (MST) schemes. The MST buses have their major terminal at Post Office area of Ilorin, and offer travel services to the University of Ilorin, Offa garage, Kwara State Polytechnic, Tanke, Oyun, and Sango. The tickets for the MST can be purchased at the bus stops before boarding. Tickets range from ₦50-150, as of 2021.

The road network of Ilorin city for most part is good, but there is sometimes traffic congestion and parking spaces can be scarce, especially during working hours. Be sure to be on the lookout for road signs, in order to avoid entering one-way roads or streets. Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) is the body responsible for managing traffic in most of the traffic congestion areas. Make sure to follow traffic rules. There are car parks around in hotels and shopping malls, most of which provide free and safe parking.

One of the easiest ways to get around Ilorin city is by taxi. Taxis are relatively cheap and cost about ₦50-100 per drop. Ilorin city taxis are painted green and yellow and most of them are Mazda cabs.

For traveling short distances, you can use motorbike taxis called Okada. These motorbikes are quick, cheap, and save a lot of walking. Okada accidents are common but safety equipment is now provided because the state government and the Federal Road Safety Commission have mandated it. Before you try and negotiate any transportation fare, always confirm the fare from a local. If you have a Nigerian friend, let them negotiate for you as the quoted fare differs greatly for locals and foreigners.

Safety helmets are a must at all times for both the rider and passenger. Majority of the times these are ill-fitting.