.jpg){kind=link}
Why visit Yola
Townapedia lists 2 parks and trails, 2 places to eat and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Modibbo Adama University, Yola and GUNDIRI FARM LTD.
Weather in Yola
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Yola
Yola (from the Fulfulde ƴola: lit. 'Great Plain' or 'Vast Plain Land') is the capital city and administrative centre of Adamawa State, Nigeria. It is located on the Benue River, and has a population of over 392,854 (as of 2006). Yola is split into two parts. The old town of Yola where the Lamido of Adamawa resides, is the traditional city and the new city of Jimeta (about 5 km or 3 mi NW) is the administrative and commercial centre.
From the Wikipedia article Yola, Nigeria (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Yola on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do1
Modibbo Adama University, Yola
School · 15.8 km
University in Nigeria
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes2
Churches and places of worship3
History
Established in 1841, Yola is a municipality that sprawls across the hillside of this North-Eastern region of Nigeria. It was the capital of the Adamawa Emirate until it was taken over by the British in 1901. Today, it is the capital of Adamawa State, which was formed in 1991 from part of Gongola State. Modibbo Adama, a local chief of the Fulani, founded Yola in 1841. During the Islamic movement led by Shehu Usman Dan Fodio in the early 19th century, Adama was recognised as a Muslim Scholar who could lead the people in the Upper Benue area. The first European to visit the area was Heinrich Barth in 1851, shortly after Yola was founded. He traveled by the Sahara route, coming through Kukawa near Lake Chad, which at the time was the capital of the Borno Empire.
From the History section of Yola, Nigeria on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Healthcare8
Map of Yola
23 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Yola Airport (YOL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 km away.
- Jimeta 8 km north, about 8 min by car
- Ngurore 28 km west, about 28 min by car
- Mayo-Belwa 50 km west, about 50 min by car
- Numan 57 km northwest, about 57 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Modibbo Adama University, Yola (MAU), Mlamido, CC0
- AUN Students, SmartAfricanBoy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 3, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.