Benin To Lagos: A Road Traveller's Guide

By Loretta O. Adamu

10 September 2016

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Lagos is about 300 kilometres due west of Benin City and a popular destination because of its status as a commercial hub. Trade relations among both cities have gone on for decades and a lot of people constantly ply this route for both business and pleasure.
The most popular road to Lagos from Benin takes you through parts of Ondo state and most of Ogun state into Lagos.
This post will give you a few tips on road travel from Benin to Lagos.

Where To Go

Here are a few transport companies that ply this route and their phone numbers and addresses.

GIGM

AKPAKPAVA TERMINAL
Address: 12 Akpakpava Road by First Junction,Benin City,Edo State
Phone: 08150846930
Email: akpakpava@gigm.com

USELU LAGOS ROAD TERMINAL
Address: 202B Uselu Lagos Road, Near Ediaken Market, Benin City, Edo State
Phone: 08150846945
Email: uselu@gigm.com
Website: https://gigm.com/

De Modern Transport

Address: 11a, Urubi Street, Iyaro Quarters, Benin City, Edo State.
Mobiles: 08077032887,08053146489.
Email: info@demoderntransport.com
Website: http://demoderntransport.bosa.ng/

Edegbe Motors

Address: Plot 245, Ugbowo Lagos Road, Benin City, Edo State.
Phone: +234 703 465 4165, +234 802 881 6665, +234 806 020 7518
Email: edegbe@edegbemotorsltd.com, edegbeline@hotmail.com
Website: http://edegbemotorsltd.com/

Ohonba Line

Address: Plot 222,Ugbowo Lagos Rd, Benin city, Edo state. Angle 90, Auchi, Edo state.
Phone: 08023352198, 08035606778
Email: goddy@ohonbaline.com
Website: http://ohonbaline.com/

Iyare Motors

Address: 25, Urubi Street, Benin, Edo, Benin City, Edo
Phone: 08135335551, 07053149555.
Website: http://iyaremotors.com/

Price Range

A bus ticket to Lagos from Benin will cost from NGN2000 to NGN3500. This is one of the widest range in price that I have noticed, so this makes it possible for anyone to find a decent transport company within their budget.

How To Choose A Transport Company

There are few things to consider when you're trying to decide which transport company to use.

  1. Budget: Buses plying this route have a wide variety in the price of their tickets, so this makes it easier to make a decision based on your budget. Call the numbers above and inquire accordingly.
  2. Convenience: Due to the price difference, seating arrangements and vehicle type across different companies will vary as well. It is advisable to do a little research in lieu of one or two phone calls to find out these details from the different bus companies. But as a rule, the more expensive it is, the better the seating and bus conditions. Some of these companies even offer different pricing for buses with air conditioning and buses without on the same route, and some of them offer online booking, with seating charts provided.
  3. Proximity: This is two-pronged, as it involves boarding the bus and getting off it. For boarding, pick a transport company that has a terminal close to where you live so that you can get there early on the day you decide to travel. First-time long distance road travelers are advised to take the very first bus, as this will increase the chances of getting to their destination as early as possible, and you can only get the first bus by arriving at the park very early.
    For getting off, road travel is a made just a little easier if you're boarding a bus that uses a route or has a terminal that's not very far from your final destination because you're usually tired and want to rest as soon as possible. Different bus companies have different routes when they get into Lagos, so choose accordingly.

What To Carry

The vehicle of choice for most transport companies for this route is the 14-seater bus, and they usually don't have a lot of space for luggage. So if you have a lot of things to transport, consider sending by courier before or after you, or buying an extra seat.

Time Taken

This trip takes about 4 to 5 hours. The time frame depends on a few things;

  1. How much time is spent at the designated stop.
  2. The driving speed.
  3. The condition of the road on the particular route taken.
  4. Traffic: The roads are generally more congested on public holidays and weekends. Sometimes there's traffic because of a road accident, an event in one of the towns along the route or even heavy rainfall.

Snack Options

There is a 30 minute stop in Ore, Ondo State. Ore is the next major town on the route just outside Benin City.
Most of the drivers are very strict with the time during this stop, so here are a few tips to successfully navigate snack time;
1. Don't eat everything.
2. If you need to use the bathroom, do so first before going to hunt for food, it'll help you save time.
4. You can buy your meal and then eat on the bus when the journey resumes if you're not a fast eater.
5. Eat as quickly as soon as you get back on the bus. You don't want to be the passenger who opens up food an hour after the last stop. The smell is never pleasant.

Tips For First-Time Travellers

  1. Getting a good seat is super important for a smooth trip. A seat in the middle of the bus next to the window is a good choice.
  2. Its not a very long trip, so the effects of seating sitting in one position for very long is not too severe.
  3. Keep your carry on as small as possible. There might not be enough leg room to set it on the floor next to you.
  4. Be polite to your fellow passengers, they might be of assistance during the trip.
  5. Sleep if you can, that always helps to pass time if you don't have a book or battery life for music.
  6. Bring a book.
  7. If reading in a moving vehicle makes you car-sick, bring headphones, a fully charged device, and a collection of your favourite music to listen to on the journey, and if you're going to sing along, keep it down.
  8. Expect stretches of bumpy roads. Keep a packet of panadol in your bag for the resulting headache.
  9. If you come across heavy traffic, mentally prepare for a long wait.
  10. Read signposts to get your bearings.
  11. Ask the driver for directions if need be.
  12. Make sure you have a fully charged battery at best or some battery life. It's never advisable to allow your phone die fully on a road trip.
  13. Another must have is airtime. There are a lot of recharge card sellers at the bus park for this reason.
  14. Make sure you keep someone at home or at your destination abreast of your progress via text or phone call.

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!

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