Aba, Nigeria

Living costs are low but infrastructure challenges are brutal in this gritty commercial powerhouse of southeastern Nigeria. With spotty electricity that often forces residents to rely on generators, Aba's 1.16 million inhabitants have learned to be resourceful in a city that's equal parts manufacturing hub and trading post.

This industrial center, famous for its craftsmen and textile production, hosts the massive Ariaria International Market - Nigeria's second-largest marketplace. A new power plant inaugurated in 2024 promises more reliable electricity to parts of the city, though many areas still struggle with basic services. The city's economy runs on manufacturing everything from pharmaceuticals to plastics, while oil wells ring its periphery and a natural gas pipeline feeds its industries.

Beyond its commercial muscle, Aba has deep historical significance as a former British colonial administrative center and site of the 1929 Women's War protest against colonial taxation. Today's Aba grapples with typical developing world urban challenges - waste management issues, transportation bottlenecks, and unplanned growth - while maintaining its position as eastern Nigeria's manufacturing backbone. The tropical climate means near-constant summer conditions, with heavy rainfall throughout most of the year and average temperatures of 25.6°C (78.1°F).