Abuja to Port Harcourt: A Road Traveller's Guide

10 September 2016

Where To Go

These transport companies ply this route for sure, here you will find their address and the the address of their different terminals.

Chisco Transport Co.

UTAKO Terminal:
Address: Plot 176, Ekukinam Street, Utako. District, opp. Mountain of Fire Ministries.
NYANYA Terminal
Address: AP filling Station, Keffi Road, Nyanya.
Phone: 08106517669, 08089273799
Website: https://www.chiscotransport.com.ng/

GIGM

MARARABA Terminal
Address: Abuja/Keffi Road, by Abacha Junction, opp Chrisgold Plaza.
Phone: 08150846941
ZUBA Terminal
Address: Market Space 206, Zuba Market.
Phone: 08150848952
UTAKO Terminal:
Address: Plot 113, Utako District.
Phone: 08150846946
KUBWA Terminal
Address: Block 43, Gado Nasko Way, Opp. 2/2 court, Kubwa. Phone: 08150846940
Website: https://gigm.com/

Guo Transport Co.

Address: Guobadia Plaza, Plot 171, Ekukinam Street, Utako.
Phone: 08075090643
Website: http://guotransport.com/terminals/

ABC Transport

GWAGWALADA Terminal
Address: Jibeco Nigeria Ltd
UTAKO Terminal
Address: No 36, Ekukinam street, Utako District.
Phone: 08142552437, 08142552441, 08063789157
Website: http://www.abctransport.com/

Price Range

A trip from Abuja to Port Harcourt will set you back about NGN6000 to NGN8000, depending on the transport company you use.

How To Choose A Transport Company

You have to consider these three things, they're the cardinal points to keep in mind for road travel.

Budget: Its always about the money, so this will play a huge part in choosing a transport company. The difference in price fares among transport companies can vary up to NGN1000, and if you do the maths, you might find that you're able to sacrifice a few conveniences for the money, and that the difference in transport to a bus terminal farther from your home or destination is still negligible.
Convenience: If you're like me, then this trumps everything. As a matter of fact, for road travel this with this distance, I think this should be a priority for everyone, of course your convenience affects everything about the trip, so its always wise to put this at the top of your list. Avoid seats that are directly on top of the tires. this will ensure that your head doesn't fall off after the trip from racking headaches cased by feeling the brunt of every (and there will be many) pothole you meet.
Proximity: How close is the transport company to your final destination and take-off point(home)? Answer this question, weigh your options, and then make your choice.

What To Carry

Always travel as light as you can, but the truth is the longer the route, the bigger the transport company's capacity for being more luggage friendly. I think maybe its because the price of things will vary sharply, so this makes more sense.
Pack light if you can, if not, have extra cash at hand for your extra luggage.

Time Taken

This trip will take up to 10 hours, depending on the route taken and the condition of the road, and the traffic deity.

Snack Options

There's a stop at Lokoja in Kogi state, about 2 hours into the journey.

Tips For First-Time Travellers

Pick a window seat, you can look outside when you're bored and you can rest your head against it to sleep.
Have a fully charged device and headdphones you can use to listen to music with for the duration of the trip.
Bring a book.
Be friendly to the other passengers, you might have interesting conversations.
It's a really long trip, so prepare yourself mentally for that.
Talk to the driver about the specific route he'll taking to figure out your best stop.
Communicate with friends and family to keep them updated on your progress.
Sleep as much as you can.
Make sure you have enough airtime on your phone.

For up to date information on bus fares and routes, please contact the transport companies directly as these are subject to change at any time at their discretion.
Safe Journey!