Abuja To Jos By Road: A Road Traveler's Guide
Road travel between Jos, the capital of Plateau State and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory is both common and necessary. Common because of the short distance and trade relations between the two cities, and necessary because there are no flights from Abuja to Jos. Whether you're going to be driving your own vehicle, using public transportation, or shotgunning with a friend, there's something in this post for you.
I would classify this as short distance road travel because there are usually no stops, and the vehicles plying this route are smaller, with an average of 7-9 passengers per vehicle.
Travelling by road to Jos from Abuja might be a good way to save air fare cost, if you're coming from Lagos. You can fly into Abuja, which is a cheaper and common route, and then travel to Jos by road.
There's also the incomparable roadside scenery the closer you get to the plateau.
Where To Go
Plateau Riders Terminal
Address: Utako Motor Park, Utako, Abuja.
Blue Whale
Head office Address: Plot MF 53, Karu Village Extension, Karu, Abuja.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +234 (0) 808 4019 629
Please note that for this route, there are countless unidentified/unregistered vehicles that pick up passengers from AYA roundabout, all the way to Nyanya bridge. They're much cheaper, but the seating arrangements are usually cramped, and they are not the safest or trustworthy as they're unregistered so I wouldn't advice you to use any of them. The price difference is also negligible.
Price Range
For a four hour road trip, Abuja to Jos will cost you about NGN1500 to NGN2000, depending on which transport company you decide to use.
Which Transport Company To Choose
This would depend largely on
- Convenience: Either bus terminals could be closer to where you live.
- Preference: Plateau Riders uses 7 seater minivans, and Blue Whales uses 18 seater buses. I prefer to travel these distances with a minivan because if I happen to be the first person at the terminal, waiting for 6 other people feels easier than waiting for 17 others.
What To Carry
Always, always pack as light as you can for road travel with public transportation.
You can always send your heavier luggage ahead of you via courier, but if you do have to carry the world along with you as you travel, prepare to pay a few extra hundred nairas for "loading".
Snack Options
I don't think you need to eat on a four hour trip, and there are no stops, unless you specifically ask, and the driver obliges (they would generally ignore you if its not bathroom related or life threatening).
If you get really hungry, or missed a meal in your rush to the park, you will find food/snacks/drinks to buy before you leave the bus terminal.
Sometimes the driver stops for corn and coconut along the road and that's your light at the end of a hungry tunnel.
Time Taken
4 hours on the whole, an extra 30 minutes if the driver is slow. Throw in an extra hour for the time it'll take you to wait to fill up the minivan with other passengers, if you're not the last passenger, and the time it'll take for you to get to and from home to the park and vice versa.
All in all, if you leave your house at around 6am, you'd be relaxing at your destination before noon.
Tips for First-Time Abuja to Jos Road Travellers
Leave for the park early. You might think because its a short trip, you can leave your house at 2pm, but most road travellers tend to leave early, so the vehicle fills up faster in the morning.
There are no stops, so brace yourself.
There are two possible routes. Going through the whole of Kaduna state or from Nassarawa to Kaduna to Plateau.
Find out where you need to stop in Jos, and do not be too shy to inform the driver at intervals. They usually forget, no matter what they say to the contrary but even if the driver forgets, because of how vocal you have been, a passenger can remind him when they get to your stop.
Hold a sweater for the definite drop in temperature when you get on the plateau.
Do you have a rudimentary grasp of Hausa? Shelve that and speak English, your chances of being misunderstood are leaner. This also makes it easier to get an English or pidgin speaking keke guy from the park.
Post a comment thanking me for these tips and add new ones that I might have missed.
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!