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.
Here are a few transport companies that ply this route and their phone numbers and addresses.
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/
Address: 49, Benin-Auchi Expressway, Aduwawa, Benin City, Edo State
Phone: 08033549479, 07055845130, 08036796574
Address: 135, Akpakpava Road, By 2nd Junction, Benin City.
Phone: 08064099501, 08071591479, 08186184488
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.faithmotorslimited.com
A bus ticket from Benin to Abuja will cost about NGN4000 to NGN5000.
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.
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.
This trip takes an average of 6 hours. Of course the time varies according to a lot of other factors like;
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;
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!