₦airaland Forum

Understanding the Checkpoints

From Agbara down to Seme, you will encounter multiple checkpoints, usually from the police, immigration, and customs. There are about four checkpoints for each security agency, and each one checks for different things.

Common Checks When Exiting Nigeria

Immigration officers focus on your passport, entry/exit stamps, and permit status.

For non-Nigerians, ensure you have not overstayed your visa or residency permit. Overstaying attracts fines at almost every immigration stop. If you are in this situation, it’s wiser to board a vehicle where the driver is skilled at navigating or bypassing these checks (usually for an extra fee).

Arriving at Seme Border: Two Options

Once you reach the border, you have two choices:

1. Stamp Your Passport (Recommended)

If you have a valid passport and a yellow card (international vaccination certificate), you do not need to pay anyone. The process is straightforward:

Port Health (Yellow Card Check)

Required before immigration.

If you don’t have a yellow card, you can get one at the border—for a fee, depending on availability.

Some travelers choose to bypass this check by paying ₦1,000–₦3,000, but the proper yellow card is always better.

Nigerian Immigration Exit Stamp

Officers inspect your passport and travel history.

You may be asked for money, but you are not obligated to pay if everything is in order.

DSS Screening

A quick formality unless you have a law-enforcement issue.

NDLEA Check

Your luggage may be inspected.

Benin Immigration Entry Stamp

Officers may also ask for “something,” but again, no payment is mandatory if your documents are valid.

The entire stamping process usually takes 10–30 minutes, depending on the crowd and your situation.

2. Bypass the Border (Not Recommended, but Common Practice)

Some travelers without passports choose to bypass the official process. Several motorcycle riders offer “cross-border services” for 2,000–3,000 CFA (₦5,000–₦7,500). This is an informal and technically illegal option, but it is commonly used.

Changing Money at the Border

After completing the border formalities, you can exchange naira for CFA, the currency used in Benin Republic. There are many POS agents right at the Benin side.

As of December 2025, ₦1,000 ≈ 380 CFA.

Getting to Cotonou from the Border

Once you enter Benin Republic, you have several options:

Private Taxi: ~10,000 CFA

Shared Taxi: Available at the local park

Motorcycle (Okada): Cheapest but less comfortable

Split Trip: Seme → Tokpa, then Tokpa → Cotonou

Very Cheap Option:
I’ll cover how to travel from Seme to Cotonou for under 3,000 CFA (7,500 naira) in my next article.

Bonus Tip: You can travel for less than ₦10,000 from Mile 2 if you split the journey rather than taking taxi. I’ll explain this approach in the next post as well.

I hope this guide helps make your Lagos–Seme border trip smoother and less stressful. In the next part of this series, I’ll share:

- How to get to Cotonou on a very low budget

- How to cross back into Nigeria without hassle

Thanks for reading, and safe travels!

Getting to the Seme Border from Lagos

From anywhere in Lagos, make your way to Mile 2. At Mile 2, you’ll find cars heading directly to Seme border. As of the time of writing:

₦10,000 if you have a passport

₦12,000 if you don’t have a passport

The trip typically takes 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on traffic.

If you join a bus or taxi that charges a fixed fare and does not “sort” checkpoints, be prepared to handle immigration checks on your own. For travelers without a passport, it’s often better to use taxis where the driver assists with clearing these checkpoints to avoid delays or issues.

I realized there hasn’t been an up-to-date guide on the Mile 2–Seme border route, so I decided to share my recent experience for anyone planning to travel this December or sometime in 2026. Everything here is based on my personal trip as of December 2025, so you can rely on it as a current and practical resource.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the journey from Lagos to the Seme border, explain the different travel options, and share what to expect at the checkpoints. Let’s get started!

Quick one, everyone, I’m trying to locate information on the changes to the payment of a one-year tuition fee on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, but I can’t seem to find it. Could anyone please share a link to where this has been publicly published?

Is there anyone in Ghent here?

Darkside212:
Please do i need to authenticate my documents at the ministry of foreign affairs before i start my admission/visa process

No, you don't have to.

Geophillic:
I am going for a two year MSc program, for visa application, do i need to provide proof of fund for 1 year or two, and how much is required in case of a year and two years.

Only for one year

Eventus31:
Thanks alot. Are you already in the program??

No, I am not, but I know a couple of guys in the program.

BDEEM is a nice course, and there are a couple of Nigerians currently in the program. If you don't speak French yet, please start learning with immediate alacrity. Congratulations on your admission and I wish you success with your visa application.

Eventus31:
I am so excited today. I have just been offered admission to the BDEEM program at UBFC. It took 7working days from the day I submitted my application to the decision date. To think I was so scared of applying and doubting my abilities, I submitted on Sunday got invitation to interview on Thursday, did my interview on Monday and received admission decision the next day. The HOD of the program said he would be happy if I joined there program.

PS. I applied with my HND 5yrs professional experience. This is for posterity sake. For anyone doubting if they will get it, just apply and see Gods hand.

Which places have you been to in France and Germany?

Broveens42:
But a small sized France(like a state in Nigeria) should have every city looking classy.
Exactly why I feel Germany is ahead of France in all round beauty

Overall, I'll give it to France.

Architecture: Germany's architecture is quite modern and it may be the reason why you think it's more beautiful than France. France have maintained the ancient European style of building and structure which you may not really fancy.

Landscape: I'll give this to France too. I can't really remember a lot of spectacular landscape in Germany, while there are plenty landscape sceneries in France.

.

mrphysics:
Hey guys,

I am a fan of the travel section, albeit a silent follower. Lol, so I want to contribute my quota. This is going to be all about pictures and experiences as an international student in France.

I basically take this pictures for guys who wish to see how life is here (in pictures). Don't worry, I have a lot of images for your viewing pleasure.

So let's go.

Pics:

1. My new life with coins. Here, I have to go back in time and appreciate the simplicity of life. Coins again? Yes
2, 3. My window view
4. My street view

Haryanfe7:
Get a visa

I’m lost here? Is it an automatic addition to the group or you have to signify that you have gotten a visa?

What does it require to be added to the campus France group?

Yktv:
Hello, congratulations. Your tips were extremely helpful.
Have you been added to campus France group?

Congratulations ma’am. Is it a study visa?

puffmama:
VISA ALERT.

I am the one that had concerns about the September 1st appointment date we got for my daughter and I . We kept on checking daily to find an earlier date.

Visa application submission/ biometrics - Aug 9th

Dispatched to the embassy sms- Aug 9th

Dispatched from embassy to vfs sms- Aug 14th.

Passport delivered - Aug 15th.

Validity - 1 year .

I am grateful to God and I thank everyone here for their contributions.

What God can not do does not exist .

Chiomaleo:
I have received it. It was positive.
I thank God.
Please i need update on school fees payment using form A. Does anyone know if it still works and how long it takes now?

Congratulations and all the best with your studies.

Yktv:
I saw a post where someone said the response from your school in France is key to the speed of visa approval. Maybe contact your school to speed up things? I plan to do the same

How possible is that? Most of the schools have closed for summer break and won’t resume until the last week of August.

Does the UK still accept applications without having to submit one's passport until the visa is ready to be issued?

Atinukemi23:
Less than 20k in naira per person.

I used a GBP card to make payment for the previous one as I was charged around £75 for 4 people and that in naira is almost 70k so that divided by 4 is around 17k.

Thanks.

hunee:
I applied 13th July, Got visa same day.
I experienced same too, then i applied by 1am. It worked with a broadband network.

I also applied outside Nigeria.

How much is the application fee via DHA?

Atinukemi23:
Please is there anyone expressing difficulty using the e visa service ? Been struggling for days, it kept logging me out, and when I log back on my details are not been saved.

Kept doing it again and again.
Exhausting.

Been on it since last week too. Managed to save some of my data, but it's been unnecessarily stressful.

Chiomaleo:
Hello everyone

I just applied for my france study visa yesterday at vfs office lagos.

Really hoping for the best.. I’m expecting a feedback in a week or so.

I did all the process from admission to campus france, by myself. No agents at all
I can answer any questions anyone might have.

Please who knows exactly how long it takes to get a feedback for study visa application?

What’s the figure on your bank statement?

mekstaniac:
Guys I need help please. I just got admitted into the International University of Monaco and I am clueless as to what to do next. Classes begin September. Help me please. What steps do I take next

The next step after your admission is to register with campus france. You will be required to make some documentation and also pay the sum of fifty thousand naira.

DIY application in Alausa is quite a straight forward process if your documents are intact.

panini:
Hello everyone here!
My experience at the NIS Passport office. This is to help those who plan to get theirs as those who shared theirs helped me too.

Location: Alausa
Passport reissue, #TeamDIY
I went for capturing today, 01/07.
I placed the booking on 01/05.

Time: 9:00 am

I planned getting there earlier but the rain didn't help matters. I got there exactly 9am and they were calling names already and people were collecting files and going inside. I met the servicom desk to direct me to the appropriate desk. They pointed at the desk opposite their cubicle: The internet registration desk.
I went there and asked an officer about the process, she asked me to get a file outside and put my documents inside. I was directed to the VIO car park adjacent the NIS compound. Under a small canopy in the car park, there's a business centre. I bought the file (#500), a 3-page form I saw people filling (#300), they typed and printed my application letter (#300) and a tiny rope to hold perforated papers (#100). The lady there seemed to know the process very well, she helped me arrange the documents and told me the documents I brought that were not needed like the birth certificate and state of origin since it was a reissue (God bless her).
I took the folder back to the Internet registration desk and they checked the documents, wrote some things, asked me to write a few things. They pointed at a door behind a glass and asked me to take my file there. I took it there and met another officer who checked some things in my original passport and the photocopies I brought and handed everything back to me. I took it again to the Internet Registration Desk and they told me that there are 2 other steps that will need to take place before I can get the file back to go for capturing. She asked me to exercise patience and come back in 2 hours. Lol. She said because of the crowd present.
I went back to the business centre and they asked me to wait at the NIS office, so that my file won't be misplaced. (Again, God bless her and her colleague). I went back and in 30 minutes, my name was called to collect my file and go for capturing. I collected my file and sat inside. The qeue was moving despite the number of people inside. It may have been an hour of waiting before I finally got to the capturing room. I was captured, got my enrollment form and en route home!
Left around 1.

Looking forward to the best. The date of collection written on the enrollment form says 01/08. Let's see if it is. Selah.

Umbrolam:
Please can I have your WhatsApp number
I need more details about the process regards to my application

08067084675

I made this post long ago in 2014. I am not sure the same assessment format is still being used by BAT. I will advice you to read some of the recent posts on this subject.

Itzocy:
***Nothing special about the interview.

The interview is divided into two stages.

The document verification stage and the proper interview stage. Both stages shouldn't be more than 30 minutes to an hour.

Whoever that is going for the interview, shouldn't be scare because it's just a normal interview to discuss your academic and professional development over the years and your plan for the future. Expect questions like.

Tell us about yourself, why the course, why France, what are strength, what do you want to gain from the course, what next after the course and so on.

Merci***

Copied

Hi @itzocy, how may I reach you?

Itzocy:
I just got admitted to UBFC. Fees: €243
Anyone else who has gotten admission, let's connect

Connect asap bro.

Can anyone who has recently renewed their passport in Lagos through the DIY approach (online) share their experience/s.

Please share your experience/s with respect to the immigration office used, issues regarding capturing if any, and the duration of the whole process.

Thanks.

Just a little bit of clarity and education.

Mechanical engineering in itself is a very broad aspect of engineering. Some of the related areas of specialization are:
1. Production engineering
2. Design engineering
3. Industrial engineering
4. HVAC
5. Automobile engineering

Now to your answer your question: Mechanical engineers are not trained to be mechanics in the university. I understand that anyone would think that way because both words tend to rhyme, but it is a very wrong assumption to think that mechanical engineers must be automobile technicians because of their educational background.

It's the same way people assume that electrical engineers must be electricians or work with NEPA by default.

In summary, Mechanical engineers are trained to work in industries, build engines, design mechanical parts and components, HVAC design, etc.

Joiceee:
Can I apply for MSC in Stellenbosch uni with HND? and is SAQA evaluation compulsory?

Hi Joiceee,

Apologies for my late response. Regarding your first question about applying to Stellenbosch with an HND qualification, to be honest, I cannot tell from the top of my head if they will accept HND or not. However, you may please give it a trial. It would cost you absolutely nothing to try. You may also email the department and/or admissions team to make a direct inquiry about this.

Secondly, you do not need a SAQA evaluation before applying to the University of Capetown and Stellenbosch University.

Hi Toks7,

If you must come to South Africa, I will advise that you give your application a break. At minimum, give it a three months break. If you are keen on having a vacation, try some other countries.

When you are ready for your application next year, do not request an invitation from anyone except they are your family. Apply directly as a tourist and ensure that all the required documents are submitted. You can submit a six month bank statement to be on a safe side. Do also ensure that your bank statement is stamped by the bank.

In your introductory letter, do well to introduce yourself in the best possible way.You may also dedicate a paragraph to include the countries that you visited in the last 2 years.

Ensure that your hotel and flight reservations are legitimate and verifiable to the last details. Therefore, ensure that your reservation is made with a very popular and reputable hotel.

Make sure there is no reason to doubt any of your documents and you can be rest assured that you will get your visa.

[quote author=Toks7 post=105889017]As educated and well to do Nigerians with legal businesses, a legal means of income and livelihood. We are yet to realize to what extent these other fellow Nigerians giving the country a bad image outside of the country as tarnished the general image and the stigma that comes with been a NIGERIAN. In this context I’m referring to the drug dealers and yahoo boys in SA. Coupled with that this present administration as even made matters worst. Every embassy sees every Nigerian as been desperate. Now I was in SA in late 2017 on a medical visa I was there for a duration of 2weeks. When I was discharged from the hospital I went on a sight see and I was astonished as to how developed they are over there and how far behind Nigeria is. I returned to Nigeria went by my business and my company, I own a Real Estates and Fintech company. I have a travel history of Germany, Ireland, UK, Switzerland and France. So last month I decided to visit a Nigerian doctor and close friend he’s a citizen in SA because he as been in SA for a very very long time, right from the late 90’s and early 2000’s. He wrote me an invitation coupled with every other details. I printed my bank statement from April 28th to July 28th I had an opening balance of 13.5m and a closing balance of 5.5m in my personal account, I submitted at Lekki on August 13th with all other necessary documents, my house and my business legal documents and ownership and every other thing else. I also printed my previous medical visa from 2017 my entry and departure at OR Tambo at the exact time. I even left their country earlier than the time they gave me to stay. My fellow Nigerians from august 13th that I submitted two weeks later my passport came back to me august 31st and I was refused and ticked under “Bank statement not valid for three months” and I was like that as to be a joke right??!! April 28th to July 28th that’s a 3months statement. So my thoughts were maybe because the consular officer meant a 3months calendar bank statement. So I reprinted the same documents I used in applying the first time and I included a copy of the refusal paper showing bank statement not up to 3months, went to my bank printed another bank statement from June 1st to September 1st and I had a closing balance of 4.3M. Tuesday September 7th went to the same Lekki center and I submitted the same documents and every other thing I used I applying the first time along with my previous medical visa in 2017, my newly printed bank statement and the copy of the paper refusing me saying my statement was not valid for 3months. The same documents, the invitation from my doctor friend, his ID copy my home and business documents . Printed everything out as I did the first time and I could recall at the VIP section one of the guys said to me “oga you were here some

I have looked at this budget for almost 10 hours before making this post, and to be honest, there's absolutely nothing extravagant about it. As a matter of fact, all I see is a young man trying to live a very modest life.

He didn't even have a plan for vacation, gadget upgrade, or a car upgrade plan in his budget.

To shed some light, I will make a justification for some of the items on the budget.

1. Housing: I want to assume that this young man is resident in Lagos. For those who do not know, getting a decent apartment in lagos is costly. For a professional like him, it is equally important to live in areas where he can easily connect to the highland or mainland. Or would you rather him reside in egbeda, ikorodu or some funny neighbourhood where he will spend half of his life in traffic because he wants to save some money off his yearly rent?

2. DSTV: Would you rather have the young man go to the viewing center to watch a late champions league game at 8.45pm? Then on his way back home at 11.30pm, he gets harassed by the police who can decide to act funny with his destiny? I would rather him pay 9500 for DSTV so that he can watch his favorite teams whenever he chooses to.

3. Laundry: It's obvious that some people don't understand how tedious washing and ironing can be. For someone who's job requires him to work during weekends, he has no choice but to patronise a Laundry, and 2k for laundry every week is not out of proportion if you ask me. In some organisations, you could get sacked for simple issues like wearing rough and unironed clothes to work.

4. Feeding: 2500 per day at 800 naira per meal is a very modest budget. For those who are a strong advocate of home made meals, kindly quantify the time, energy, and resources required to convert your foodstuff into palatable food. When you are done with this, you will realise that you didn't make any significant saving by cooking yourself. For people who also leave home very early and arrive late at night, eating out is apparently the best option during the week. During the weekend, when you are not working, you may try to cook at home. It won't cost less either ways.

On a last note, do not forget that a budget is only an estimated cost of expenditure. It does not necessarily mean that all the money will be consumed as planned. There will always be some unspent funds in some of the itinerary which can go into some other itinerary or end up as savings as the case may be.