Is it advisable to drive my 2005 car from Lagos to PH by myself.
How much will i need for men in black( i.e Olopa) on the road & also the custom. Am planing to move as early as 5:30am to beat some police checkpoint.

NOTE:The custom duty is fully paid.

How expensive is the car?

immortalcrown:
How expensive is the car?

Just 2005 Toyota camry

Waxxxy:
Is it advisable to drive my 2005 car from Lagos to PH by myself.
How much will i need for men in black( i.e Olopa) on the road & also the custom. Am planing to move as early as 5:30am to beat some police checkpoint.

NOTE:The custom duty is fully paid.

Leave an hour earlier. From Lag/Ibadan Expressway checkpoints are fully manned even by 4:00 am. And you're looking at 45-50 (customs, SARS, Army, FRSC, JTF) of them between that Expressway and Onitsha.
Pay someone familiar with that road to fly that car down, or change multiple 200 naira notes. The fact that your papers are complete is inconsequential to the thieves on the road except Road Safety. They will certainly delay you if you don't comply.

Eddee:


Leave an hour earlier. From Lag/Ibadan Expressway checkpoints are fully manned even by 4:00 am. And you're looking at 45-50 (customs, SARS, Army, FRSC, JTF) of them between that Expressway and Onitsha.
Pay someone familiar with that road to fly that car down, or [b]change multiple 200 naira notes. [/b]The fact that your papers are complete is inconsequential to the thieves on the road except Road Safety. They will certainly delay you if you don't comply.

Thanks, even the custom officer will collect #200 despite the fact that my duty was fully paid without shortchange?

Waxxxy:


Thanks, even the custom officer will collect #200 despite the fact that my duty was fully paid without shortchange?

You're quite certain your papers are complete. Better still go to the nearest custom office yourself and verify it. I usually don't have the time to do it myself so I use computerglobal. Used him twice in the past, this is in no way a validation of the services he/she/they render (personally I'll still use him/her/they again and again). After verification, you will be given the verified copy which you should show custom officers any time they stop you rather than the real papers, once they see the verified form, they will not collect your thanksgiving offering or waste your time. The Nigerian Police on the other hand could care less what documentation you have. Just respect yourself and do the needful or be prepared to be delayed unnecessarily. Again, I'm not asking you to bribe a Federal officer, I'm only suggesting you make change for easy transaction along the 630 km or so.

Eddee:


You're quite certain your papers are complete. Better still go to the nearest custom office yourself and verify it. I usually don't have the time to do it myself so I use computerglobal. Used him twice in the past, this is in no way a validation of the services he/she/they render (personally I'll still use him/her/they again and again). After verification, you will be given the verified copy which you should show custom officers any time they stop you rather than the real papers, once they see the verified form, they will not collect your thanksgiving offering or waste your time. The Nigerian Police on the other hand could care less what documentation you have. Just respect yourself and do the needful or be prepared to be delayed unnecessarily. Again, I'm not asking you to bribe a Federal officer, I'm only suggesting you make change for easy transaction along the 630 km or so.

Thanks...I will try and do the verification before moving & as well have enough 2h for men in black although they not even collect self
Just want to have the experience and post it here on nairaland for others that may want to do it themselves

I'm not sure they will be interested in an 05 Camry, except you don't have number plates. Never encountered issues, apart from stop, search, check and beg for something.

oseiwe:
I'm not sure they will be interested in an 05 Camry, except you don't have number plates. Never encountered issues, apart from stop, search, check and beg for something.

No plate number on it because its tokunbo.

Waxxxy:


No plate number on it because its tokunbo.

It will be better for you to out number plates on that car before commencing on this journey if that car is yours and you didn't buy to resell.
No olopa will take 200 Naira from your for an unregistered car. Standard rate is 500-1000 Naira. Else they will park you for hours. E be like you just come naija.
There are about 45 police check points between Lagos and pH. Do the math. Custom is standard 1000 wether your custom paper is complete or not. They will tell you that you underpaid. If you wanna argue, they will keep you there till you finally agree to pay up. At that time, the price will be anything from 2k to 5k depending on your negotiating power.

Put a plate number on that car, buy the essentials required by FRSC and go on your merry way with savings.
Make sure the engine number and all other details are stated and correct on all your vehicle papers.
Do not write custom or N/A in any required field. Make sure the detail is filled. Else be ready to pay 1k or more to continue your journey each time you are stopped.

Been there.

9icetoo:

It will be better for you to out number plates on that car before commencing on this journey if that car is yours and you didn't buy to resell.
No olopa will take 200 Naira from your for an unregistered car. Standard rate is 500-1000 Naira. Else they will park you for hours. E be like you just come naija.
There are about 45 police check points between Lagos and pH. Do the math. Custom is standard 1000 wether your custom paper is complete or not. They will tell you that you underpaid. If you wanna argue, they will keep you there till you finally agree to pay up. At that time, the price will be anything from 2k to 5k depending on your negotiating power.

Put a plate number on that car, buy the essentials required by FRSC and go on your merry way with savings.
Make sure the engine number and all other details are stated and correct on all your vehicle papers.
Do not write custom or N/A in any required field. Make sure the detail is filled. Else be ready to pay 1k or more to continue your journey each time you are stopped.

Been there.

The car is for resell.

Waxxxy:


The car is for resell.

Then stuff enough 500 and 1k notes in the hand rest. You will need it. Unless you are not in a hurry and have time for banter with policemen.
Make sure the custom duty is genuine and fully paid up. Else those Benin custom people will simply drive that car to their zone and that will be the last time you see it. If the duty isn't complete. Pay the regular 5k and be on your merry way.

Just have enough 200 Naira notes , drove my sisters car from Lagos - Enugu no number ,just stretch your hand outside ,once U get to a checkpoint and greet d officer with a handshake ... that will save you time

tripoli007:
Just have enough 200 Naira notes , drove my sisters car from Lagos - Enugu no number ,just stretch your hand outside ,once U get to a checkpoint and greet d officer with a handshake ... that will save you time

Nigeria is that bad.

Sometime ago, I bought a car in Lagos and drove to the FCT myself. I ran out of NGNs in my wallet, had to sort the olopa men with USDs (the only currencies I had in my wallet). I felt pained giving out the USDs but I had no choice

After this, I was lucky to have a senior Army officer who had soldiers escorting him. I made sure I followed them closely behind, see how the olopas were clearing the cars at the check points for the soldiers to pass through, I made sure to take advantage of the opportunity.

uboma:




Nigeria is that bad.

Sometime ago, I bought a car in Lagos and drove to the FCT myself. I ran out of NGNs in my wallet, had to sort the olopa men with USDs (the only currencies I had in my wallet). I felt pained giving out the USDs but I had no choice

After this, I was lucky to have a senior Army officer who had soldiers escorting him. I made sure I followed them closely behind, see how the olopas were clearing the cars at the check points for the soldiers to pass through, I made sure to take advantage of the opportunity.

You be bad sharp guy oo

tripoli007:
Just have enough 200 Naira notes , drove my sisters car from Lagos - Enugu no number ,just stretch your hand outside ,once U get to a checkpoint and greet d officer with a handshake ... that will save you time

I will try bro...someone told me to move on Thursday that the road is usually free and less police on the road

Waxxxy:


You be bad sharp guy oo

Lol.

At some point during the road trip, I realised that some other cars kept struggling to be just behind the vehicles carrying the soldiers. The soldiers noticed this and had to warn us with their hands to keep far away from them. They later realised that we were tagging along just to evade the olopas at the checkpoints, they stopped bothering us. It was a sweet ride afterwards.

Nigerian Policemen are mean!

Waxxxy:


I will try bro...someone told me to move on Thursday that the road is usually free and less police on the road

What is going to happen on Thursday that will make the presence of the olopas less visible?

Our olopas are always out to make money, I doubt there is a day they do not create unnecessary checkpoints just for the purpose of extorting motorist.