Umuahia (pronounced [ʊmʊaːhiaː]) is the capital city of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria.

[3][4][5] Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to its south, and Enugu city to its north.

Umuahia is renowned for being a railway and agricultural market center, which attracts traders and farmers from neighboring towns to sell their produce, such as yams, cassava, corn (maize), taro, citrus fruits, and palm oil and kernels.

These local governments are also composed of clans such as the Umuopara, Ibeku, Olokoro, Ubakala and Ohuhu communities.

The British, who arrived the region and annexed it sometime around the mid-to late 19th century, upon learning the name, mistakenly pronounced and spelled it as "Umuahia".

Given its serenity and proximity to other towns, such as Ohafia, Abiriba, Ihechiowa, Arochukwu, Obowo, Ngwa, Okigwi, Uzuakoli, Bende, Nnewi, Akwa Akpa (Old Calabar), and Kalabari, merchants of produce, pottery, crafts, textile, traditional medicine, palm wine, and tools travelled from afar, to trade at the busy market center, with many roads leading to it.

The new location became one of the major trading posts along the rail route built by the United African Company (UAC) for carting produce, raw materials, and minerals along the trade route from Sub-Sahara to the Atlantic Ocean, for onward exportation to Europe.

On April 22, 1969 Umuahia was occupied and nearly taken by Nigerian troops but were forced to retreat, due to a stiff offensive by Biafran Maj. E.A.

The first executive chairman of the old Umuahia local government area is Chief Chibiko Ukanwoke, elected in December 1991.

[11][12][13][14][15] The annual seasonal variation in the average percentage of sky covered by clouds in Umuahia is quite pronounced.

[17][11] Around November 24 marks the start of Umuahia's clearer season, which lasts for 2.6 months and ends around February 10.

[17][18] In Umuahia, April is the month with the most clouds, with the sky being overcast or mostly cloudy 85% of the time on average.