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Voykit pocket guide · Nigeria
Irrua
Skip as a destination. Use Irrua only as a 1-hour stop for the Onojie Palace if you are already in Ekpoma or on the Auchi–Benin road.
Irrua is a small Esan town in Edo State, known as the seat of the Onojie of Irrua, the traditional head of Esanland. It has one landmark (the palace), a private university and a basic hotel. Most travellers pass through on the road between Benin City and Auchi without stopping.
- Country
- Nigeria
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry season)
- Avoid
- Apr–Oct (wet season, heavy rain)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NGN
- Money
- Currency is the Nigerian naira (NGN, ₦). Exchange rates have moved sharply; change money only at banks or licensed operators.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₦5,000–10,000 · Mid ₦10,000–20,000 · High ₦20,000+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile; SIM registration needs a passport and NIN-style biometric capture — foreigners register at company offices (check).
- Emergency
- National emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types G, D · 230 V · 50 Hz · Grid power is unreliable; hotels run generators. Bring a power bank.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10% if service is not added.; Driver day: ₦5,000–10,000.; Hotel porter: ₦500–1,000.; Guide: ₦5,000–10,000 per group.; Parking attendant ('agbero' or official): A few hundred naira; only to official attendants.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap. Bottled or sealed sachet water ('pure water') from known brands.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; carry tissue and hand sanitiser.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | ₦200–300 |
| Local meal (rice and stew, jollof, or pounded yam with soup) | ₦800–1,500 |
| Okada ride within town | ₦200–500 |
| Taxi to Ekpoma | ₦1,000–2,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ABB · Asaba International Airport
- About 1.5 h by road; flights from Abuja and Lagos. Check.
Typical fares
- Taxi Irrua → Ekpoma
- about ₦1,500, 15 min (check)
- Taxi Irrua → Benin City
- about ₦3,000–4,000, 1.5 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Irrua is walkable; taxis and okadas (motorcycle taxis) connect the town and nearby Ekpoma.
See and do
Known for
- Onojie of Irrua Palace
- Mudiame University
- Esan traditional culture
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ekpoma | Taxi or okada, about 15 min | 20 min |
| Benin City | Shared taxi or bus, about 1.5 h | 2 h |
| Auchi | Shared taxi, about 40 min | 1 h |
| Ukhun | Taxi, about 30 min | 40 min |
Sleep
- Irrua town centre
- One hotel (Ambassador Hotel) near the palace; basic, air-conditioned rooms.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Kóyokoh-yoh |
| Thank you | Ò'kóoh-koh |
| How much? | Éghé ó?eh-gheh oh |
| Where is the toilet? | Ébé ẹ́kpẹ́n?eh-beh eh-kpen |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Greet with a handshake and a question about family; Yoruba juniors may bow or kneel to elders; avoid: Rushing to business
- Titles: Use Sir, Ma, Chief, Alhaji; avoid: First names with older people
- Hands: Right hand to give, receive and eat; avoid: The left hand for money or food
- Dress: Smart clothes for churches, offices and events; modest dress in the north; avoid: Shorts in the north
- Hospitality: Accept food or drink offered; avoid: Flat refusals
- Photos: Ask first; avoid: Police, soldiers, airports, government buildings
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads can be muddy in the wet season.
- No ATM in the town centre – bring cash from Ekpoma or Auchi.
- Mobile network coverage is adequate (MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9Mobile).
Irrua is generally safe, but petty theft can occur. Avoid walking alone after dark. Check your government's travel advice for Edo State.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Irrua yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Onojie of Irrua Palace
- Mudiame University
- Esan traditional culture
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Irrua, revision 5212262 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5212262
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Irrua
Gbé mi lọ sí ààfin Onojie, Irrua
Take me to the Onojie Palace, Irrua
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- National emergency112
Embassies are in Abuja; consulates in Lagos. Check your government's travel advice for Edo State.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/irrua). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.