Benin To Abuja: A Road Traveller's Guide

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by / 10 Sep 2016

The ancient city of Benin is the capital of Edo state and one of the major cities in the south-south. It is home to the Bini people and is known for its bronze sculptures, vibrant people and an ancient monarchy dating back to the 1100's.
Abuja is the Federal Capital Territory and about 450km to the north of Benin city.
Road travel along that route is very common and popular as it connects two major cities in the north and south.
If you're travelling by road using public transportation from the core north to the southern part of Nigeria, Abuja is a great place to get a connecting bus to the south, and if you're coming from the southernmost part of the country, Benin is your best bet to get a connecting bus to the north.
The most common (and the shortest) route takes you through the northern part of Edo state, most of Kogi state, and past the Niger bridge before you enter the Federal Capital Territory.

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

Big Joe Motors

Address: 49, Benin-Auchi Expressway, Aduwawa, Benin City, Edo State
Phone: 08033549479, 07055845130, 08036796574

Faith Motors Limited

Address: 135, Akpakpava Road, By 2nd Junction, Benin City.
Phone: 08064099501, 08071591479, 08186184488
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.faithmotorslimited.com

Price Range

A bus ticket from Benin to Abuja will cost about NGN4000 to NGN5000.

Which Transport Company To Choose

For some reason-I'm guessing the very stiff competition-all the transport companies on this route seem to have a unified travel arrangement.
They all have bus terminals within short distance of each other and use similar buses. This means that you will have to rely on word of mouth recommendation or just plain instinct on the day you need to travel. All the transport companies mentioned above use 14 seater minibuses. The seats are numbered from front to back, starting with the seats next to the driver, so keep that in mind when you're buying tickets.
Some of the transport companies now offer online booking, with seating charts provided, so that increases convenience.

What To Carry

These 14-seater buses do not have a lot of space, so it is advisable to pack as lightly as you can and send the rest of your luggage via courier. You can also consider buying an extra seat.
Your carry on bag should be as light as possible for your convenience.

Time Taken

This trip takes an average of 6 hours. Of course the time varies according to a lot of other factors like;

  1. The driving speed.
  2. The condition of the road on the particular route taken.
  3. 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 Lokoja, Kogi state, just before the Niger bridge, so fret not. The bus drivers usually stop at select fast food restaurants because the owners offer them free food, so don't be too mad if they pass by a familiar one and stop at another, and you can almost always find a variety of street food and snacks outside these eateries.
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. The first rule is to not eat too much as this might cause your stomach to revolt, and since this is the last stop, your next option might be the bushes.
  2. If you need to use the bathroom, do so first before going to hunt for food, it'll help you save time.
  3. Stay away from all the delicious looking fried food by the road stick to dry pre-packaged food if you have a volatile stomach.
  4. It is advisable to buy your meal and then eat on the bus when the journey resumes, fast eater or not.
  5. When you get back on the bus, eat as quickly as possible. 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. Where you seat in the bus can affect the quality of your trip, so find out if you can buy your ticket in advance, and then reserve a good seat on the bus.
  2. Carry sunglasses, Abuja is quite sunny and you'll get there in the afternoon if you leave in the morning.
  3. Six hours spent sitting down is no joke, so brace yourself.
  4. Keep your carry on as small as possible. There might not be enough leg room to set it on the floor next to you.
  5. Be polite to your fellow passengers, they might be of assistance during the trip.
  6. Sleep as much as you can, the trip can seem faster if you're asleep for most of it.
  7. Bring a book for the boring parts of the trip where you'll be passing trees for hours.
  8. A seat right beside the window would be perfect if you can get it. They're usually the first to go, and that's another reason to get to the park early.
  9. 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.
  10. Expect stretches of bumpy roads. Keep a packet of panadol in your bag for the resulting headache.
  11. If you come across heavy traffic, mentally prepare for a long wait.
  12. Read signposts to get your bearings. You don't want to be that annoying passenger yelling "where are we now" at the driver every hour.
  13. If you need advice or help when you get to your stop, ask the driver or other passengers for help.
  14. 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.
  15. Another must have is airtime. There are a lot of recharge card sellers at the bus park for this reason.
  16. 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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