So on Friday 16th-Dec-2016, myself and I hit the road to Zaria for a friend's wedding. And of course, returned to Lagos on Sunday 18-Dec-2016.

Car: Infiniti G20. 2000 model. 2.0 ltr, P11, SR20DE engine,
Home. Lagos
Destination. Zaria
Approx (to fro) Distance: 1,800km
Approx (to fro) litres of fuel to be used - 250
Car's odometer reading at start of Trip: 264,626mi
Intended Trip Route: Lagos-Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomosho-Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Makera-Tegina-Birnin Gwari-Kaduna-Zaria
Take off time: 11am
Expected Trip duration: 14hrs (each way)

Story in pictures shortly...

Start time

Odometer reading

car rear view

oya!! post more

Lost over 2 hours between Lagos and Redemption Camp.

Got to Ibadan at past 2pm.

Considerable job done by the Ibadan-expressway contractors. If you ask me, I think the RCC guys are doing a better job than Julius Berger. Their job is faster, traffic control and diversions are excellent, road signs are adequate and in place.

I was on Oyo-Ogbomosho by past 3. Same narrow road. Same numerous daily accident filled road.

A few shots on that highway.

Following

Following

More pix. Come and complete the story

More shots.

Gridlock before Ogbomosho, miles and miles of loaded lorries stuck for hours. Had to get off the road.

Got to Ogbomosho 4pm dot.

Some pics from Ogbomosho township.

Ogbomosho Ilorin dual-carriage expressway. One of my best roads in Nigeria.

Ilorin. 4.44pm. And end of dual carriage way.

I'd promised my sister who lives in Ilorin that I would be seeing her. Considering that I was 2 hours behind schedule, I told her that would have to be on my return leg. So didn't go through Ilorin city. Just followed the bye-pass sort of.

The diversion to the right takes you into the city from this expressway.

That is AlHikma University signboard welcoming one to Ilorin.

Ilorin Bodesaadu Road under speedy and heavy rehabilitation.

I am aware the rehabilitation covers the stretch of road across Jebba to Mokwa. This road has been horrible for ages. The contract has also been repeatedly awarded by successive governments, except the incumbent.

It has been totally fixed from a village abt 20jm after Ilorin to past Bodesaadu. Roughly over 100km of work done.

More good road.

Thanks to whoever got them to do this.

Travelled this road this October and the speed of progress is commendable.

End of good road after Bodesaadu.

Yours exhausted truly. I don remove my Gwari cap, tear chest button.

Why
Didn't
You
Pasd
Lagos
Ibadan
Ilrsha
Akure
Owo
Ibilo
Okene
Lokoja
Abuja
Kaduna
Zaria

DEXTROVERT:
Why
Didn't
You
Pasd
Lagos
Ibadan
Ilrsha
Akure
Owo
Ibilo
Okene
Lokoja
Abuja
Kaduna
Zaria

I am more familiar and conversant with the route I took.

Jebba, 6.10pm

Life Camp Junction.

More drive work

Good bye to Kwara State

Oya kwantinue.

BTT God bless you for this road trip pics that you posted for us to feed our eyes on. it's been quite a while since I read road trip diaries on nairaland.
Most of all we thank Jehovah God for journey mercies and safe arrival. Cheers & i hope that you enjoyed the wedding.

GAZZUZZ:


Same thoughts.

Same answer, Oga Gazzuzz.

Jebba bridge, Kwara Side.

Jebba bridge, Niger Side.

Another terrible road gridlock. miles and miles of trailers caught up in the gridlock.

Jebba Mokwa Road. Very terrible.

Traffic. Asked one of the trailer guys and he told me it is as far as to Mokwa. Got off the road and followed one Hilux branded 'Pilot 01' with one 'Dongari' seated in the cabin.

Nightfall and dust ruin what should be a perfect picture.

Mokwa 7.26pm.

I have not logged in to nl for over 4 years, i just read and go but i just had to comment on this so i logged in.
i love what you are doing. please keep us abreast with more photos. have a good day

Interesting adventure

So, 7.30pm I was in Mokwa and had about 7 hours of more road-work to do. I was torn between taking the Bida or the Makera route.

I know Mokwa to Bida is good, but Bida to Minna is just as bad.

Parked inside a filling station at Kainji junction and made a couple of calls. Besides, since I left Lagos, I had not truly stretched my feet and back. I spoke with wifey, I was afraid she would discourage me from continuing the trip in the night, in which case I would have no choice. Interestingly, she just said 'The day is still young, how many hours do you have to the next big town? Without thinking, I just told her about '3 hours'!

Checked my fluids and the car's beneath. All ok.

I filled up my tank again at Bovas. N4000. Asked the pump attendant if there was anything I should worry about the Makera road. He just said it was bad. But urged me to ask from the transporter guy buying fuel behind me. He just said ''Gaskiya, ni dai ban sanni anyah Kaduna nan ba". Meaning he knew very little about Kaduna road.

So I hit the road again. It was to 8.

Had a tete-a-tete with a soldierman at Makera junction. He concluded I was going for a passing-out event in Zaria. Well, I have been trained to not disagree with a man with the gun. He told me the road was bad and to be careful. "Well this one na small car naw. You no suppose get problem"

So I got to Makera about past 9.

The road was indeed bad.

Couldnt take shots because it was dark.

I drove and drove and drove and to no end. I was exhausted and was just going to bunk at the next town anyway.

Truth is, I started the trip after a night shift at work. Although I am used to night travels and can stretch myself for long hours, but for me, this night, I have had enough.

Police - Federal Highway Patrol checking my papers. 10.58

Got to Tegina at 11.15pm.

Biiiiiiiiiiiiiig relief!!!

In my tired mind, I was in Birnin Gwari.

DEXTROVERT:
Why
Didn't
You
Pasd
Lagos
Ibadan
Ilrsha
Akure
Owo
Ibilo
Okene
Lokoja
Abuja
Kaduna
Zaria

Same thoughts on my mind, he actually took an 'Israelite journey' route that's infested with bad roads.

kingreign:

Same thoughts on my mind, he actually took an 'Israelite journey' route that's infested with bad roads.

Apart from bad roads, this option of yours is actually the 'Israelite journey' route.