Asaba was once the colonial capital of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. It was founded in 1884. It hosted the Royal Niger Company, which the British authorities set up to stimulate trade and the exportation of goods to England. That company has grown today into the UAC Nigeria PLC. Its traditional ruler is the Asagba, Joseph Chike Edozien. Maryam Babangida, wife of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who was Nigeria's head of state from 1985 to 1993 was born in Asaba
