Lagos to Kaduna By Road: A Traveller's Guide

Kaduna City, capital of Kaduna State in north-western Nigeria, located on the Kaduna River. Kaduna's name is derived from the Hausa word "kada"  which means crocodile. The name was given because of the crocodile-infested river of Kaduna.  It is not uncommon to see crocodiles basking by the rocky riverside. This is why it is popularly dubbed the ?Crocodile City.? One of the biggest and industrialized cities in Nigeria.It is a trade center and also a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. A major tourist attraction in Kaduna is the annual Kaduna Festival of Arts and Culture which takes place in November/December. There are various sights to visit in Kaduna such as the Ancient Nok Settlement,  Kagoro Hill, and the Kamuku National Park.

Choosing A Bus From Lagos To Kaduna

There are several factors to consider before choosing a bus bound for Kaduna. It is important to remember that all transport companies offer different qualities of service and comfort. Therefore, the first step to choosing your bus would be to make a detailed inquiry before purchasing your bus ticket to ensure that the selected bus company is the best choice for you. Before you buy your ticket, you should think about your budget. Various ticket prices are available for the same destination. Be sure to find out what price options are available for you so you can book a ticket that best suits your budget. The next factor to investigate would be the closeness of the bus park to your home. It is always wise to patronise the transport company which is within close proximity to your home to help reduce the risk of your bus leaving without you. You will also need to inquire about the bus route of each company and decide which route best favours you. The routes available from Lagos to Kaduna are;

1. via A2
2. Expressway1/E1
3. A 125

It is also important to find out the stops the bus driver will make along the journey.

Finding Kaduna Bound Buses 

There are various road transport companies available that travel from Lagos to Kaduna on a regular basis. Some of them are: ABC Transport Jibowu Terminal Bus type: Sprinter Service Time: 6:15am Average Price: N6,400 Address: 22 Ikorodu road, Jibowu, Yaba Tel: 08142552434 Email: [email protected] Cross Country Yaba Park Time: 6:35 am Average Price: N5,700 Address: Murtala Mohammed Way, Jibowu, Lagos Tel:08067024485, 07060418477 Email: [email protected] God is Good Motors Jibowu Terminal Bus type: Toyota Hiace Average Price: N8,270 Time: 6:00am Address: 20 Ikorodu Express Road, Jibowu, Lagos. Tel: 08150846939 Email: [email protected] Calculux Jibowu Terminal Bus type: Executive seater Time: 6:00am Average price: N10,550 Best Way Motors Otto Terminal Time: 5:00pm Average Price: N11,500 God Bless Ezenwata Otto Terminal Time: 3:00pm Average price: N7,600 Ifesinachi Jibowu Terminal Time: 6:00am Average price: N8,050

Travel Time To Kaduna

The estimated time of travel from Lagos to Kaduna about 13 hours. If the bus driver takes the A2 route, which is the fastest way, you should be travelling a distance of 905 km. The other routes and travel times from Lagos to Kaduna are;

• via Expressway 1 / E1 -  14h 5min
• via A 125 - 14h 46min

The time of year may affect your travel time. The rainy season often causes low visibility during rainstorms and erosion of the roads making them bumpy and slippery, which in turn causes traffic that eventually affecting your overall travel time The journey also may take a bit longer during festive periods as a result of the increase in traffic, security and police checkpoints.

How/What To Pack

The journey from Lagos to Kaduna takes about 13 hours, this means that the way pack your luggage should be taken seriously. The first tip to packing your luggage properly is to pack as light as possible with a suitcase/bag that is compact. Your luggage may be weighed and heavy bags incur an extra fee. Also, consider that you will be arriving at Kaduna at night (depending on when you leave) and lugging a bulky bag might be an inconvenience at that time of day. Most transporters do not have much space in the boot of the bus for luggage, so your luggage will be tightly packed along with that of other passengers. This means that you should avoid using a fragile bag/suitcase. If you have to carry heavy luggage, because of the purpose of your travel, you may want to consider sending your luggage separately. As it was mentioned earlier, most transporters do not have a lot of space available for suitcases inside their passenger vehicles. Pack for the weather. Kaduna has a general tendency to be warm (up to 38 degrees Celsius) at daytime and up to 9 degrees Celsius at night time. This occurs especially between November and January. Be sure to pack clothing suitable for both extremes. Take a carry-on bag that contains all your essentials and valuable belongings. Keep a form of identification in this bag, just in case you need it during a security check. Keep it with you at all times. Be sure to pack some snacks in your carry-on bag. The trip from Lagos to Kaduna is quite long and the stops are usually spaced hours apart. This means that there will be long stretches of time where you may not see a city or be able to purchase any food. Having food on hand would be a good way to tide you over during the trip.

Where To Eat

There are several food options between Lagos and Kaduna and if you take the longer routes, you will be spoiled with a variety of choices. Different road transporters make stops at different locations but stops are usually made in Ilorin, Ibadan, Benin,  Okene, Lokoja, Minna etc. You may also purchase food from the hawkers at border towns or wait till the bus stops at a fuel station to buy food from the nearest restaurant.

Where To Stay in Kaduna

If you plan to spend a couple of days in Kaduna to take the city in, there are various hotels you can stay in. There are different categories of hotels for any need you might have, whether you?re looking for lavish in luxury, or to find comfort on a budget. Some hotels to stay in include; Zeecool Hotels, Hotel 17, Quarter House Hotel and Chimcherry Hotel.

Travel Tips

1. Have a form of identification on hand in case of random police checks.
2. Keep your fragile and important belonging in your carry-on bag.
3. Arrive at the bus park early, this will allow you to be able to choose the best seats.
4. Take a sleep mask, this will come in handy when you want to sleep and protect your eyes from the sun.
5. Get a neck pillow or a small throw pillow to allow you to sleep comfortably in case you are not seated by a window you can lean on.
6. Go along with you a book or any other form of entertainment.
7. Be careful to save your phone battery so you can use your phone upon arrival at Kaduna.
8. If you are travelling with children, be sure to inquire about the space in the vehicle and the possibility of a children's discount.
9. Take the time to stretch your legs at every stop to get your blood circulation flowing.
10. Enjoy the long scenic ride from Lagos to Kaduna. You?ll pass a lot of towns and settlements between Lagos and Kaduna, be sure to take it all in.

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