₦airaland Forum

Hi,

I'm an American visiting your area soon.
From Benin, I will be going with a guide to Togo and Ghana, in their vehicle. The guide says they do not have an ECOWAS Brown Card, but that it is not a problem. They said we would need to pay a "let pass" at the border, but can you cross the borders without an ECOWAS Brown Card.

Is that true? Or is it just that you "pay more" to cross without one?
I don't want to be stuck at the border.

Hi friends!

I'm an American visiting Nigeria in the next couple weeks. I'm really interested in politics, but unfortunately I don't know much about Nigerian politics. When in Nigeria, I'm not sure if it's okay to ask strangers about their politics. So I'll ask here!

Can you help me by listing or explaining some of the top issues in current Nigerian politics?
Upcoming elections, political parties? That kind of thing.

Maybe you can provide me with something neutral and unbiased.
Please no opinions! I really don't want to start a post war or long thread of opinions. I can read about the issues in other posts on Nairaland or other websites.

Hi friends,

I'm an American visiting Lagos in a few weeks. In America they don't teach world history, just American history (which is why our population is so dumb!).

And so before my trip, I'm trying to learn more about Nigerian history, and the history of nearby countries.

What do _you_ think I should learn about?

Colonialism?
The war in '67?
What else?

Hi!

I'm an American visiting Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana in upcoming weeks. I'll have a small amount of cash for food, water, and gas, but I'm wondering how to pay for larger expenses like a car hire.

If I wanted to send money to someone virtually/digitally, is there a well-known app that is commonly used in all or most of these countries?

I don't have an African bank account, so it would have to be something I can load up from a foreign bank transfer or credit card.

I've seen "MTN mobile pay" mentioned a few times, is that good?

Thanks!

(Apologies if this is not the right forum for this topic)

TheMan3:
hmmm since you are white, it gets more tricky. Everyone will want to extort you. One more question, does your passport Have visa free access to these countries? Or can you get visa at the border?

I don't think you would have problem at the Benin and Togo side. I've seen whites crossing that border before the same way. But my concern will be in the Ghana side. You know Togo border is not open so you can't stamp out. But Ghana border is open, but you can't stamp in because you came In unofficially. Ghanaian immigration are sometimes not friendly to foreigners.

As for the northern Togo and Benin borders, I've never been there so I don't know.

If it's adventure you are looking for, you are sure going to have lots of it

But if you want to avoid all these, just go by air, one hour you are in Ghana. By road, the journey is at least, 18hours.

For Benin I'll have an e-visa, Ghana a proper visa, and Togo has visa-on-arrival but only if the border is open, otherwise I'd need to fly in.
Thanks for all the advice. I think I'll either fly into or fly right over Togo, unless their borders open soonish. Wouldn't want to be stopped by guards all the time without a stamp in my passport.

TheMan3:
if you take the ferry to badagry, it's more because of the bad roads and safety reason not because of the check points. There are about 41 check point from badagry to seme border. Infact checkpoints actually starts from badagry.
But I will still advise you take the boat though since you are a foreigner.

You should be able to cross the Nigerian border into Benin with no stress.

As for Togo, it's very very easy to pass unofficially. Take a taxi from seme to Togo, it usually costs arround 15,000cfa. The driver will do all the bribe on your behalf. You will not even need to get out of the car. Secondly, when you get to the Ghana border, you will have to take a bike accross the border through the bush part because you can't stamp your passport out of Togo because Togo border is not yet open. But don't worry it's safe.

Thirdly, when you get to Ghana, take a taxi to Accra, it's usually arround 80cedis. But pay the driver extra so he can do the settlement on the road on your behalf. It's not much just negotiate with him.

Fourthly, Welcome to Accra

This is really helpful, thank you.

TheMan3:
But one last question, are you white or black? If you are black all these will be very easy because you can just blend in. But if you are white, you money will definitely be higher because they think you are automatically a millionaire lol

I am white, and I expect that will make it interesting. But I am no millionaire!
Are your instructions still good, other than needing to pay more? Even the part about "take a bike accross the border through the bush"?

Do you know if northern benin-togo border crossings are also "unofficially open"? Like near Djougou or Boukoumbe?

TheMan3:
seme border Is very open, the only one is Togo still closed. Ghana is open. But you can of course unofficially pass through any of those borders.

Do you have a Nigerian passport? If you do no problem. But if you have only American passport and speak phonne.... Pls don't try it alone.

No Nigerian passport, but someone from Lagos can walk me up to the border. We will probably take the ferry from CMS to Badagry to avoid most of the checkpoints and traffic and then take motorbikes the rest of the way. But I do speak phonne

Are there plans to open the Togolese border in the next couple months?

> But you can of course unofficially pass through any of those borders.
Is this true for Togo too? I was hoping to cross at Ketao/Kemerida.

(Also, thanks TheMan3. No need for suffering here)

I'm an American hoping to make a trip from Lagos to Ghana by land.

Is Seme border open to go to Benin?
What about from Benin to Togo at Hilla-Condji?
Togo to Ghana?

I found this recent article that makes it sound like Seme border is open:
https://punchng.com/border-reopening-clearing-agents-knock-fg-say-closure-disastrous/

And I read Ghana is open. I can't tell if Togo is open.

Thanks!

Thanks all!

Is it possible to get a SIM card for MTN at the airport?

I'm coming from America in July. I love to listen to fela kuti.

I heard the club "New Afrika Shrine" does a "Felabration" in October.
But I will be coming in July.

Are there any concerts/shows/events in July? Where a live band plays?
It doesn't have to be the Kuti family....I'm just looking for that style of music.

Skyfornia:
Yaba, surulere or Ikeja if you are thinking of staying on the mainland.

VI, Lekki phase 1 and 2 if you are thinking of island

Thanks! What is the advantage of staying on the mainland compared to the island? Or on the island compared to the mainland

Hi!

I'm visiting Lagos in July, coming from America. What's a good area to get a hotel in?
(Sorry if this doesn't fit in this topic. This is definitely "Travel" for me!)

What I'm looking for:
+ Centrally located to what you think a tourist should do.
+ Best place for Nigerian foods! Street foods or restaurants. I want to try everything. I'm coming to Lagos to eat.
+ Near markets?

This would help me choose a hotel. Thanks!!!

Thanks all! I will get started on this right away.

For the letter of invitation, I don't know anyone in Nigeria. Which would look better to the embassy/consulate, a letter from a travel agency that I pay, or a letter from my hotel?

Hi!

I'm an American arriving in Lagos in July. I'm planning to get a SIM card for my cell phone, hang out in Lagos, then head West through Benin, Togo, and Ghana.

Can you recommend a cellular provider that works pretty well in these areas? Ideally something I can get pretty easily at the airport or on the island

Hi!

I'm an American tourist looking to visit Lagos in July. I haven't applied for a visa yet. But I heard on some random youtube that it is hard to get a tourist visa. Does anyone know if this is true? Maybe this is due to covid?

Thanks!