ILORIN TO SOKOTO BY ROAD: A TRAVELER’S GUIDE

For the majority, road travel is the easiest and most convenient and cheapest way of getting around the country and while in this case, air travel is more convenient, a trip by road is far cheaper and affords passengers a chance to take in the scenic route.
Ilorin is the capital of Kwara state, the largest city in the state and located in the North-central region, although close to the south-western region as well while Sokoto is located in the extreme North-West of Nigeria, near the confluence of The Sokoto and Rima rivers, and is also the capital of Sokoto state.

THE BEST PLACE(S) TO GET A SOKOTO-BOUND VEHICLE IN ILORIN

Maraba Motor Park: To get to the park, take a cab going to post office/Challenge, alight and then take another cab to Maraba park along the Zongo/Kwara Polytechnic axis and drop at the garage bus stop. Make your way into the garage and you can pick from a range of vehicles such as: Taxis, fourteen-seater buses, minivans, 504 wagons that seat 9 (four at the back, three in the middle and two up front beside the driver). The price range for vehicles in the park is from 5,500-6,000 naira range charged by the buses to 6,000-7,000 charged by the taxis and minivans.

Train: For travellers who have a lot of time on their hands and also want to see a bit of the country, this should be the route to take. Train tickets can be gotten at the tickets office at Post Office/Challenge bus stop. After you pay for your tickets (which cost 3,000-4,5000 depending on the train compartment you’d like to travel in), you board the train which drops you at Zamfara, and from there you can get a taxi to Sokoto state which will take just one hour at a rate of 1,000-1,500 naira

Kwara express: The Kwara express park is located just after Roemichs school, before Iyana kilaanko (Kilaanko junction) in Offa garage. The usual vehicles are available here: The taxis, buses and minivans but they’re cheaper than the Maraba Park with the price range in the 4,000-6,000 naira range; however the Sokoto vehicles are only available on designated weekdays.

Offa garage park: You can take a 50-70 naira taxi from Challenge and drop at the Garage just after kilaanko junction. The garage is split into two: RTEAN (road transport employers assoc of nig) for the taxis and minivans which charge 6,500-7,000 naira and NURTW (National Union of Road Transport Workers) mainly for the buses which charge 5,500-6,000 naira

WHAT/HOW TO PACK

• Pack as few bags as possible for easy management and to save cost, Drivers tend to charge extra for really big bags (especially the taxi and minivan drivers) and extra bags.

• Make sure you get to the park on time so you can pick a seat of your choice.

• When you get to the park you’ll be set upon by different alabarus (porters loitering around waiting for passengers with heavy luggage) who’ll flat out demand to carry your bags to the vehicle going to your destination, you have a choice of firmly indicating a “No” with your head and walking past them or surrendering your bag(s) to them if they’re heavy, however be sure to keep a close watch on the porter and your bag(s)

• Inform your driver of any fragile items in your bag. It also helps to watch as the bags are being arranged to ensure your belongings aren’t squashed in a corner or under other heavy luggage. Keep all valuables with you

• On no condition should you have any sort of camouflage material with you as they’re banned and if found on your person, will lead to you being extorted for money by the policemen along the route and the vehicle being delayed.

• Watch what you eat before travelling, while it has rest stops along the way due to the sheer distance travelled, it’s advisable to still go easy on the food due to the fact that the restroom facilities along the way are still for the public.

• Fill the personal information form that will be passed around beforehand. The transport company just might need to reach someone on your behalf.

TIME TAKEN

The trip from Ilorin to Sokoto usually takes approximately 10hrs by car (longer if travelling by Train), taking into consideration road and weather conditions.

SNACK AND RESTROOM OPTIONS

You can make a selection from a wide range of snack choices at the park, from barbecued meat to Gala and drinks. There are some public restrooms available at the park but (personal preference, mind), I prefer to leave the house with an empty bladder and eat sparingly along the journey rather than make use of the public restrooms provided. There’s a restroom along the route in Kotangora, Niger state.

PERSONAL TIPS FOR THE FIRST-TIME TRAVELER TO SOKOTO

• Evacuate your bowels before leaving the house.

• Make sure you fill the personal information form supplied to passengers and also take down the licence plate number of the vehicle and pass on to as many friends as possible (and make sure the driver sees you taking down the plate number)

• Make sure your most valuable possessions are kept close to hand in a carryon or a small bag, not just because of theft but also because of the way items are stacked carelessly in the trunk.

• I prefer sitting up front beside the driver, asides being the most comfortable seat in the vehicle, it’s also within easy reach of the charging port so you can listen to music, read, surf the internet (where coverage exists on the road) without running your battery flat. Barring that, leave the house with a full charge and a powerbank if you have one.

• You are travelling to a Northern town so you have to make some allowances for their rules over there, limit certain liberties and make sure to avoid certain behaviours that might offend the Sokoto people.

GETTING TO YOUR DESTINATION

You’ll be dropped at Tasha-lemuu when you get to Sokoto and from there you can get a taxi to your destination.

Hadari Tafiya (have a safe trip)