8 reasons you should live in Port Harcourt at least once in your lifetime

I can think of a million and one reasons to live in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Aside from the fact that the city is a beautiful place to live in and it offers a different culture, there is so much going on there!

Port Harcourt city (PHC) attracts thousands of tourists a year, making it one of the most prominent cities in the country in terms of visitor popularity. From the people to the places, from the food to the drinks and from the bars to the gardens; here are Jumia Travel’s reasons why you should make this lovely city your home…even if it’s just once in your life!

A Different Culture

At some point in your life, you will have a need to be exposed to a place that’s completely different from what you are used to and PHC offers the perfect location to not only experience a different culture; but also expand your mindset and learn about how other people live. Almost every local government area in the city has its own unique culture and you can learn a lot about people as you immerse yourself in it.

Jobs, jobs, and more jobs

From large oil companies like AGIP, MOBIL to a list of multinationals, the number of companies that have set up shop in Port Harcourt city (PHC) is absolutely endless. Nigeria as a nation maybe suffering a recession at the moment, but nevertheless, prospects in PHC right now are good. There are plenty of internships and jobs to help you develop your skills and establish your career in your chosen industry.

You can actually save

There is the rumour that PHC is a very expensive city and  things are not really cheap. While there is a measure of truth to this, Port Harcourt is hardly a city you would describe as notoriously expensive. The standard of living is still a little lower than in such cities as Abuja and Lagos and aside from that, food items, clothing, and transportation is quite affordable; you just need to know where to go and how to navigate the city. You, therefore, do not spend so much catering to daily expenses and you can save for your dream house or goal.

Transportation is easy

You do not necessarily need to have a car when living in PHC since there are easy and well-organized transport system. The transport in PHC is so great, the commuters are calm and enter their choice of a transport system in an orderly manner. Even better, you can literally walk everywhere. For instance, you can trek from Waterlines to Agip or from mile-1 to Town, everywhere almost close to each other; unlike in Lagos and other metropolitan cities within the country where everywhere is just far from each other and walking could imply suicide.

Bole and fish

You may have tasted it in other parts of the country; you may have liked it or you may have hated it. In PHC, however, Bole and Fish, a popular meal among the locals in the city, is a different ball game altogether. With a diverse and exciting array of this delicious cuisine found literally at every corner of the city– and it is wonderful to have it quite literally on tap wherever you go- it is sure to excite your taste buds and give you a reason to stick around.

Marvellous Shopping

People in PHC love shopping and as such, you’ll be spoilt for choice with boutiques and Malls strategically positioned around town. Your friends will be dying to come up for a weekend, then you can always head to one of the many lounges or bars to put your feet up after showing off the miles of shopping heaven that is the city.

Active nightlife

Nightlife in Port Harcourt is huge. Home to hundreds of pubs and bars, embracing diverse music scenes, PHC is a great night out 7 days a week. A lot of silent places in the daytime suddenly come alive with music and activities that drag night owls from their homes to hubs, joints and hotels. With numerous live events hosted weekly, you’ll be sure to catch your favourite band on one of the nights.

The city is of full of wonderful people

The reputation of the PHC people for being hostile to visitors is misdirected. The city is actually populated by friendly, helpful and open-minded citizens – for the most part – who relish the idea of a more metropolitan and multicultural future for the city.