₦airaland Forum

AlphaNugget:
This guy can lie, most of his inputs are lies.....why will you pay for stamping fee? I and other passengers didn't pay for any fee aside from transport fare which is 89k in GIGM.

This is misinformation at its peak!!

divinetouch24:
Actually I'm Not a Picture Person, But I do Have Some Pictures I Took On My Journey

abcommglobal:
I have been given small ban on my other account. Lemme post chapter 3 from here....




Republic.

writeprof:
You pay for stamping your passport at each entry point sir. Don't be hasty to call him a liar. I have travelled on road from Nigeria to Abidjan and beyond I paid at each point except while leaving Ghana before entering Ivory Coast and this was because the vehicle I boarded had collected the money as part of my fare.

I have been at Seme where luxury bus drivers just bring the passports of passengers to be stamped and money exchanged hands. That you didn't pay means it was added to you fare.

Stamping out of Nigeria or stamping into Nigeria is the only one that is supposed to be free for Nigerians but the guys will always ask you for something. If you don't have, you're not forced to give.

TechBaron:
Meanwhile, sharp route to GH na boat from Maza Maza to Badagry (after the last Nig Customs checkpoint) . Take bike to park (in Benin), then Bus to Accra. No stamping of passport, no need for Yellow card, no harassment.

If you know, you know!

You're welcome!

Fun fact - You can travel around West Africa without an international passport!

TechBaron:
Meanwhile, sharp route to GH na boat from Maza Maza to Badagry (after the last Nig Customs checkpoint) . Take bike to park (in Benin), then Bus to Accra. No stamping of passport, no need for Yellow card, no harassment.

If you know, you know!

You're welcome!

Fun fact - You can travel around West Africa without an international passport!

Obinnau:
pleas3 can you detail us on the prices and boarding points for Lagos to Abidjan

Pootle:
you be fayawo

Deegee7788:
Continue the gist

divinetouch24:
I'm Trying To Update The Thread, But At Every Trial, The Reply Button Disappears For Days... What could Be Wrong

divinetouch24:
Chapter 4: Cotonou to Hillacondji – The Benin Republic Experience

Entering Cotonou – The Economic Heart of Benin

As our bus left the Seme border behind, we drove into Cotonou, the largest city and economic hub of Benin Republic. It was a significant contrast to Lagos—cleaner streets, less noise, and noticeably fewer cars. Instead of Danfo buses and keke napeps, the streets were flooded with motorcycles, known locally as "zemidjans."

Cotonou was different from Lagos in many ways:

The roads were wider and well-paved.

People obeyed traffic laws, unlike the chaos of Lagos traffic.

French was the dominant language, making communication difficult for non-French speakers like me.


As I looked out the window, I saw huge markets, shopping malls, and banks, a sign that Cotonou was a commercial powerhouse. The city had a mix of modern infrastructure and traditional African markets, just like Lagos, but without the same level of congestion.

Language Barrier – Struggling with French

One major challenge I faced in Benin Republic was the language barrier. Unlike Nigeria and Ghana, where English is the official language, Benin is a French-speaking country. While some people spoke broken English, most conversations were in French or Fon (a local language).

At one point, we stopped at a fuel station, and I decided to buy a bottle of water.

"Bonjour," I greeted the attendant, trying to sound polite.

He responded with a long sentence in French, and I just stood there, confused. I could only catch the word "mille" (one thousand).

I tried English. "How much?"

He shook his head and repeated, "Mille francs."

I quickly realized he meant 1,000 CFA, which was about ₦1,200. I paid and walked back to the bus, feeling embarrassed. Abigail laughed at me.

“You should learn some basic French before traveling here,” she teased.

That was good advice.

Food Stop – Trying Beninese Cuisine

Our driver announced a 30-minute food stop at a roadside restaurant. Since I was already in a new country, I decided to try the local food.

Beninese cuisine is heavily influenced by French and African flavors. I ordered "pâte" (a cornmeal dish similar to Nigerian eba), grilled fish, and a spicy sauce. The food was delicious, and I noticed that Beninese food was less oily than Nigerian food but still flavorful.

Cotonou to Ouidah – The Road of History

After lunch, we continued our journey, passing through Ouidah, a historic town known as the birthplace of Voodoo and a major site during the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Key landmarks in Ouidah include:

The Temple of Pythons – A sacred place with live pythons used in traditional Voodoo practices.

The Door of No Return – A monument marking the last point enslaved Africans saw before being taken across the Atlantic.


Though we didn’t stop, I made a mental note to visit these places on a future trip.

Approaching the Benin-Togo Border – Hillacondji

After another two hours on the road, we reached Hillacondji, the border town between Benin Republic and Togo. This was the second international border crossing of the trip.

Unlike the Seme border, Hillacondji was less chaotic but still had a strong police presence. We all had to step down again, and the usual process began:

1. Benin immigration stamped us out of the country.


2. Togolese immigration officers checked our passports and yellow fever cards.


3. Some passengers had to pay small bribes to get their documents cleared faster.



Once again, my Nigerian passport and yellow card were enough to get me through without much trouble. But for those without the right documents, the officers demanded "something small."

Entering Togo – A New Country, A New Experience

With our passports stamped, we officially entered Togo, a small but lively country with a strong French and Ewe culture.

Our next stop: Lomé, the capital city of Togo.

Love800:
But that little amount of disease which was injected inside your body, can cause damages in your system later in life. Thats what he is trying to say.

Kola5281:
There's nothing causing damage later in life or afterlife, thats the whole point of the lil orientation i gave. since you got vaccinated for polio while you were an infant, has there be any adverse reaction to your body till date? HELL NO!

divinetouch24:
Chapter 5: Lomé, Togo; A Small Yet Lively Country

Crossing into Togo – A Quick but Tense Process

After leaving Hillacondji, we officially entered Togo, a narrow strip of land sandwiched between Benin and Ghana. The moment we crossed the border, everything seemed to change—the architecture, the road signs, and even the people’s dressing style.

Togo, like Benin, is a French-speaking country, so my struggle with the language continued. Unlike Nigeria and Ghana, where English dominates, here it was all French and Ewe, the local language spoken by many Togolese.

We had one final check at the Togo border post, where uniformed immigration officers asked for our passports again. They were more professional than the ones at Seme and Hillacondji, but still slow.

One of them, a short man with a serious face, flipped through my passport and asked, "Où allez-vous?"

I had no idea what he said, but Abigail whispered, "He’s asking where you’re going."

I quickly replied, "Accra, Ghana."

He stamped my passport without further questions and waved me through. No bribes this time.

First Impressions of Lomé

Lomé, Togo’s capital, was just a 20-minute drive from the border. The city felt calm, well-organized, and significantly less crowded than Lagos or even Cotonou.

Notable differences I noticed immediately:

The roads were surprisingly clean and well-maintained.

Motorcycles, not cars, dominated the streets.

The traffic was light, and drivers obeyed the rules.


Lomé is a coastal city, and as we drove along the main roads, I could see the beautiful Atlantic Ocean in the distance. The breeze coming from the sea was refreshing.

Motorcycles Everywhere – The Zémidjans of Togo

Unlike Nigeria, where Danfo buses rule the roads, Togo’s main form of public transport is motorcycles, known as “zémidjans.”

Abigail explained, "If you need to move around fast in Lomé, forget taxis. Just take a zémidjan. They are everywhere, and they are cheap."

It was true. I saw hundreds of motorcycles weaving through traffic, carrying both passengers and goods.

A Quick Stop at Lomé Grand Market

Since the bus had to refuel, we were given 30 minutes to explore Lomé Grand Market, one of the busiest markets in Togo. The market was full of life—colorful fabrics, fresh fruits, and traders calling out in French.

I saw stalls selling:

Kente cloth and African prints (similar to those in Ghana and Nigeria).

Togolese food like “Akpan” (fermented corn drink) and grilled fish.

Handmade beads, leather goods, and souvenirs.


I wanted to buy something, but I had no CFA left. Luckily, one of the traders accepted Naira at a terrible exchange rate, so I just bought a small snack.

Language Barrier – Another Challenge

As I tried to buy a drink, I realized the seller didn’t speak English at all.

Me: "How much?"
Seller: "Mille francs."
Me: "Can I pay in Naira?"
Seller: Blank stare.

This was when I really wished I had learned some French before traveling.

Back on the Road – Heading for Aflao Border

After our short stop, we got back on the bus. The driver announced, "Next stop, Aflao border!"

This was the final border crossing into Ghana, and from what I had heard, it was the most difficult one.

As we left Lomé behind, I felt excited—Ghana was just a few kilometers away.

Sorry Guys I Haven't Been So Active. I Am Currently On a 3 Days Tour as a tour guide With Some Religious Group To Badagry. I'll Create a Post About The Tour.

Pawa100:


Hehehehehh ! Abeg woooooo !.
Make I kukuma tell una ! If Una wan come Ghana , please Hold serious Money ! Because life is seriously Expensive in ACCRA except if your final destination is in the other regions of Ghana !!! ACCRA the Capital is very very expensive !!!
Abeg poster , make you try add the expenses wey you dey inquire during your adventure..... E go seriously help others who are trying to venture into exploring Ghana !

Good Post !!! 👏

I just dey pass go see my mechanic for where I dropped my car for repairs na em I say make I take small picture post for una !
And Accra itself is very dusty!

👍

mmadu4:
Ghana is expensive . Even other regions hold better money . Or get better income . Currently in Tamale with my Muslim sugar mummy Thank God for adjoa

Nemesis0147:
When I went to Ghana 2018 through ifex or something
We didn’t experience all these checks but I remember summiting my ID to the driver at Benin

The driver will just talk to them and we will cross….though we we’re alway ask to come down at every boarder

divinetouch24:
The talk the driver talked was more than a talk

divinetouch24:
I'll be going on a road trip to Ghana in by wednesday. Care to join, let's go ....

Mystine:
I will love to join you but I am yet to get my passport