Teewonders:
My mum is from Benin republic and I know very much about the country, if anyone interested to know anything about the country feel free to ask me

sirrotex:
Can anyone help with the updated cost of getting to Cotonou from mile 2

Yampotatocarrot:


Current cost as at today, 5th of November is about #4000... Note: I factored in the exchange rate

Note that the CEFA is now more valuable than the naira... As in #1000 gives you just 800cfa... So you'll be spending more

From Iyana-Iba to Badagry is still #1000... From Badagry to Seme is #400... Alight at the last busstop and just walk forward, you'll see the big gate and right beside it, the small gate. Follow the small gate, don't let anyone deceive you to follow the big one. Crossing the border without passport will cost you #800... It's #200 at each point

Tips: If you have passport, don't bring it out when you get to the border. Pass the small gate and if they ask for passport, just bring out your money and give to them.

However, between Badagry to Seme, one of the 12 checkpoints is for Immigration, if those ones search your cab and ask who you are, tell them the state you are from, and tell them you're going to Seme to FLEX... Show them your passport, they'll free you immediately. If they ask where in Seme, just name one of the beaches...

Secret is, without passport, DON'T TELL THE IMMIGRATION officers at the Badagry-Seme road that you are crossing over... Just incase you tell them you're crossing, they'll bill you 2k, just smile and say 1k or 5h, any amount you want to give

Very important, WHEN YOU GET TO THE BORDER, DON'T BRING OUT YOUR PASSPORT, JUST HOLD YOUR #200... Change your money (or #500 if you have church mind), although some will give you change, some WON'T GIVE

In all, I think the bosses are reoeientating the border officials because they are now very CIVIL and RESPECTFUL, especially to youths... I don't know the reason, but I noticed all the hostilities previously experienced have been lacking of late. They act very, very, very courteous to young guys at the border

Annoying part is, some young guys now want to take advantage of that to behave anyhow and talk anyhow to the immigration guys at the border, thank God for the few soldiers there who put them in their place constantly.

(DON'T enter bike to cross, or listen to those that'll follow you telling you they can cross you... Just walk forward towards the small gate. If you are loss, walk up to any of the policemen/women, tell them you are looking for the small gate, that you want to cross, but you don't have passport... Make sure you walk to the policemen/women in groups... You'll see them. They'll point it out to you..drop #500 to say thank you, if you want... most won't ask anything... and walk on)

Damn... I talk too much... Lol

sirrotex:
Well said. Thank you. I am really pained at this new exchange rate though

Yampotatocarrot:


I was actually surprised, because last week, it was #1000 to 900cfa

By evening at the border, some were already changing at 750cfa

Yampotatocarrot:


I was actually surprised, because last week, it was #1000 to 900cfa

By evening at the border, some were already changing at 750cfa

sirrotex:
This means that by December it would tank further. Sad indeed. I only hope that this exchange rate would not make me cancel my proposed trip

Yampotatocarrot:


Sure, I expect it to hover around 600cfa soon... Atleast it will balance there for a while

You want to take a road trip? Which countries?

Yampotatocarrot:


Sure, I expect it to hover around 600cfa soon... Atleast it will balance there for a while

You want to take a road trip? Which countries?

Temitopex:


You can't get Porto-Novo directly from Owode. You'd have to get to Idiroko first which would cost less than or about #200 from Owode. From Idiroko, you'd then take bike across to Igolo which is #1,000 or #1,500 depending on your bargaining power. It is majorly #1,500 for two people. So from Igolo, you'd see taxis to wherever you intend going within the country there.

iykehill:


Please we want to visit Porto novo, we are coming from Abuja and according to the transport company they will stop us at Jibowu. We intend going through idiroko border and want our passports stamped except for an infant without a passport. Please how can we move from Jibowu so we can get to idiroko border route

Temitopex:


I'm sorry but it is obvious you haven't been there, and it's sad on how people criticize Togo and benin republic because of their names. Those countries are way better than today's Nigeria. Take it or leave it.

StoicAdvisor:


Any idea about the cost of the apartment there? For example, can 100k naira get me a good three-bedroom apartment in a good area monthly?

Mekudi:
how

Temitopex:


You mean 100k for apartment alone, or for your monthly expenses plus accommodation?

Yampotatocarrot:


Current cost as at today, 5th of November is about #4000... Note: I factored in the exchange rate

Note that the CEFA is now more valuable than the naira... As in #1000 gives you just 800cfa... So you'll be spending more

From Iyana-Iba to Badagry is still #1000... From Badagry to Seme is #400... Alight at the last busstop and just walk forward, you'll see the big gate and right beside it, the small gate. Follow the small gate, don't let anyone deceive you to follow the big one. Crossing the border without passport will cost you #800... It's #200 at each point

Tips: If you have passport, don't bring it out when you get to the border. Pass the small gate and if they ask for passport, just bring out your money and give to them.

However, between Badagry to Seme, one of the 12 checkpoints is for Immigration, if those ones search your cab and ask who you are, tell them the state you are from, and tell them you're going to Seme to FLEX... Show them your passport, they'll free you immediately. If they ask where in Seme, just name one of the beaches...

Secret is, without passport, DON'T TELL THE IMMIGRATION officers at the Badagry-Seme road that you are crossing over... Just incase you tell them you're crossing, they'll bill you 2k, just smile and say 1k or 5h, any amount you want to give

Very important, WHEN YOU GET TO THE BORDER, DON'T BRING OUT YOUR PASSPORT, JUST HOLD YOUR #200... Change your money (or #500 if you have church mind), although some will give you change, some WON'T GIVE

In all, I think the bosses are reoeientating the border officials because they are now very CIVIL and RESPECTFUL, especially to youths... I don't know the reason, but I noticed all the hostilities previously experienced have been lacking of late. They act very, very, very courteous to young guys at the border

Annoying part is, some young guys now want to take advantage of that to behave anyhow and talk anyhow to the immigration guys at the border, thank God for the few soldiers there who put them in their place constantly.

(DON'T enter bike to cross, or listen to those that'll follow you telling you they can cross you... Just walk forward towards the small gate. If you are loss, walk up to any of the policemen/women, tell them you are looking for the small gate, that you want to cross, but you don't have passport... Make sure you walk to the policemen/women in groups... You'll see them. They'll point it out to you..drop #500 to say thank you, if you want... most won't ask anything... and walk on)

Damn... I talk too much... Lol

StoicAdvisor:


Just for rent alone

Temitopex:


If it's just this, then you'd obviously get something very comfortable in a conducive environment. That's a good budget.

StoicAdvisor:



How do one go looking for house there? Any website or agency? I want to live in Cotonou, which good neighborhood should I target? I don't mind taking the rent up to 200k monthly.

Temitopex:


Sorry for the late response please. You would need to get to Oju-Ore from Jibowu. To make life easier, use Bolt ride from Jibowu to this place because boarding buses with an infant won't be a nice experience. At Oju-Ore, you'd see taxis heading to Owode for about #500 per head. When at Owode, Idiroko is about #200 per head. You'd tell the cab man you want to alight at the border since you need your passports stamped. There is no straight bus from Oju-Ore to Idiroko when I last went there except maybe there is now. You can only get a straight bus back to Sango/Oju-Ore from idiroko, not while going.

iykehill:

Thank you so much for your response. It is very clear, but please when I alight at the idiroko border, after stamping, are there cars heading to Porto Novo from the border?

Temitopex:


Yes there are, in fact, you'd get taxis heading to different West African countries as well, so you're sure to get a taxi to wherever you're headed within the country there.

iykehill:

Much gratitude

Temitopex:


You're most welcome.

Temitopex:


You're most welcome.

iykehill:


Please I have approached my week of moving to Porto novo, but I have decided to reach Lagos by air and then use cheap means of transport to move to idiroko before heading to Porto novo. Please how can I navigate my way using public transport which are cheaper until I reach idiroko? please treat as urgent

Yampotatocarrot:


Current cost as at today, 5th of November is about #4000... Note: I factored in the exchange rate

Note that the CEFA is now more valuable than the naira... As in #1000 gives you just 800cfa... So you'll be spending more

From Iyana-Iba to Badagry is still #1000... From Badagry to Seme is #400... Alight at the last busstop and just walk forward, you'll see the big gate and right beside it, the small gate. Follow the small gate, don't let anyone deceive you to follow the big one. Crossing the border without passport will cost you #800... It's #200 at each point

Tips: If you have passport, don't bring it out when you get to the border. Pass the small gate and if they ask for passport, just bring out your money and give to them.

However, between Badagry to Seme, one of the 12 checkpoints is for Immigration, if those ones search your cab and ask who you are, tell them the state you are from, and tell them you're going to Seme to FLEX... Show them your passport, they'll free you immediately. If they ask where in Seme, just name one of the beaches...

Secret is, without passport, DON'T TELL THE IMMIGRATION officers at the Badagry-Seme road that you are crossing over... Just incase you tell them you're crossing, they'll bill you 2k, just smile and say 1k or 5h, any amount you want to give

Very important, WHEN YOU GET TO THE BORDER, DON'T BRING OUT YOUR PASSPORT, JUST HOLD YOUR #200... Change your money (or #500 if you have church mind), although some will give you change, some WON'T GIVE

In all, I think the bosses are reoeientating the border officials because they are now very CIVIL and RESPECTFUL, especially to youths... I don't know the reason, but I noticed all the hostilities previously experienced have been lacking of late. They act very, very, very courteous to young guys at the border

Annoying part is, some young guys now want to take advantage of that to behave anyhow and talk anyhow to the immigration guys at the border, thank God for the few soldiers there who put them in their place constantly.

(DON'T enter bike to cross, or listen to those that'll follow you telling you they can cross you... Just walk forward towards the small gate. If you are loss, walk up to any of the policemen/women, tell them you are looking for the small gate, that you want to cross, but you don't have passport... Make sure you walk to the policemen/women in groups... You'll see them. They'll point it out to you..drop #500 to say thank you, if you want... most won't ask anything... and walk on)

Damn... I talk too much... Lol