Hello all,

Greetings.

If everything goes well, I'd be driving from PH to Abuja. It's going to be the farthest distance (by far) I've driven. The car is a Volkswagen Passat wagon (1999).

Won't be doing this alone, of course. Would have a friend and a mechanic accompany me.

So, I need the professional advice of the long distance drivers here.

Thank you.

Secondly, how reliable is Google map in Nigeria?

Have you used it before? Kindly share your experience..

Alabo, when do you intend to embark on the trip?

Belexy95:
Alabo, when do you intend to embark on the trip?

Sometime in January.

Will advise you test run your vehicle engine(check for oil shortages/ linkage), plugs, nausels,water system, your gear and check if your alternator charges... and battery intact.. if everything is good no need going with your Mec except the car is not in a good condition before your trip.. but cars can be funny anyway.

Shaftcraft:
Will advise you test run your vehicle engine(check for oil shortages/ linkage), plugs, nausels,water system, your gear and check if your alternator charges... and battery intact.. if everything is good no need going with your Mec except the car is not in a good condition before your trip.. but cars can be funny anyway.

Thank you. The mechanic issue is just me being extra careful. I know this is because it's my first time.

Regarding the condition of the car, it's OK just that it's been parked for a while. I'm still at Abuja now but when I return to PH, I'll drive it around throughout this festive period. Currently, my mechanic is working on it "to bring it to life."

My other concern is the accuracy of Google map. I've traveled the PH-Abuja route several times but I'm still not very confident with the road.

Thank you very much for your contribution, have a nice day.

More contributions, please..

More?

TONYE001:
More?

It's a 20 year old German car! They are known for age related issues that could surface and/or be exacerbated by stressful long trips. For example, the rubber bushings in the suspension, wheel bearings, fuses, oil leakages etc. Taking along a mechanic is one thing, but better still, you should take along some critical spares. If I were you, I would replace the water pump if it has not been replaced in like 100k miles. I'm guessing its a carburetted engine being of that vintage so I would have that serviced. Check breaker points if it has that vs electronic ignition. Check readiator hoses and the radiator itself. Does it have a plastic neck vs. a metal fitting? Inspect and change air filter if needed. Take along a spare radiator hose, engine oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, radiator coolant. Have a safe trip!

Mancala:


It's a 20 year old German car! They are known for age related issues that could surface and/or be exacerbated by stressful long trips. For example, the rubber bushings in the suspension, wheel bearings, fuses, oil leakages etc. Taking along a mechanic is one thing, but better still, you should take along some critical spares. If I were you, I would replace the water pump if it has not been replaced in like 100k miles. I'm guessing its a carburetted engine being of that vintage so I would have that serviced. Check breaker points if it has that vs electronic ignition. Check readiator hoses and the radiator itself. Does it have a plastic neck vs. a metal fitting? Inspect and change air filter if needed. Take along a spare radiator hose, engine oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, radiator coolant. Have a safe trip!

Thank you!

TONYE001:
Hello all,

Greetings.

If everything goes well, I'd be driving from PH to Abuja. It's going to be the farthest distance (by far) I've driven. The car is a Volkswagen Passat wagon (1999).

Won't be doing this alone, of course. Would have a friend and a mechanic accompany me.

So, I need the professional advice of the long distance drivers here.

Thank you.

I've done this before so I can tell you how to do it from practical experience. I am assuming you will follow this route: PH -Enugu -Nsukka - Ankpa - Idah - Ajaokuta - Lokoja - Abuja. I cannot guarantee the safety and the state of the road via the other route that cuts through Patani and Edo state.

Step 1: Ensure all your car papers (including tinted permit) are in order. You will encounter a lot of police checkpoints from Obigbo all the way to Nsukka. From then on, sporadic checkpoints (mostly military) at Itobe bridge, Murtala bridge, etc. Also, leave with a full fuel tank.

Step 2: Your journey starts. Leave PH very early (by 5am) so you avoid the traffic build-up at the bad road points between PH and Aba. Continue along the PH - Enugu expressway. You will cut off at the 4-corner junction before you get to Enugu proper, so you avoid the town. That 4-corner road is a narrow, snaky road on a hill. You have to drive with extreme caution here. Many cars have fallen into that ditch at the side of the road.

This road will ultimately take you to the 9th Mile corner, from where you will proceed along the Enugu-Nsukka road which is very smooth thanks to the Governor or Enugu state who undertook to repair that road on behalf of the Federal Govt. (he has to follow that road to Orba his village, just before Obollo-Afor...what do you think?) You will cross Nsukka, Obollo-Afor and head towards Otukpa/Ankpa (where you will take a major left turn to head into Kogi state). There is a filling station at that junction and you cannot miss it as you will see Peace mass transit and other transport buses taking that turn. Also, there are lots of hawkers there selling stuff like plantain, garri, palmwine, etc. So you cannot miss it.

The journey will take you through several towns along the major road. You will get to a place called Ejule, where you have an NNPC Mega station. If you did not refuel at the mega station close to the Abia Tower at Umuahia, you have to do so now. From there, continue on the major road until you get to where you have some civilization (I think it is called Achabo...not sure again), at a place where you will do a left turn round a round-about towards Idah. Keep watching for the Peace Mass Transit buses. They will give you confidence to know you are on the right track. Try to follow them as well so you know how to navigate the road as well.

The road through Idah will take you back to the major expressway junction, where you will do a left turn towards Ajaokuta. You will cross the Itobe bridge over the River Niger at some point. As you get to the Ajaokuta area, there is a section where the road is bad. So many people now decide to take a turn into the Ajakouta steel complex road, which significantly cuts off the bad portions of the road and shortens the journey by about 30 minutes. You will have to beg the security there and do as they tell you to pass.

When you burst out at the other gate of the steel complex and back into the express, your journey will take you towards two junctions where the road branches out into 4. Be careful here, as a wrong turn will send you into Okene or somewhere else and you will be lost. Again, follow the Peace Mass buses or ask directions to ensure you take the correct turn. Usually, it is a right turn (both times) if you are coming from Ajaokuta axis. This takes you into the Ganaja-Lokoja road. In 20 minutes, you will be in Lokoja. Again, you can do a fuel top-up here.

Time spent so far:
PH - Nsukka (4-5 hours approx).
Nsukka - Lokoja (3 hours)

At Lokoja, take a deserved rest at any of the restaurants. Again, follow the Peace Mass buses or other transporters. You will see where they park to eat.

From Lokoja, you will cross the Murtala Muhammed bridge, en-route to Abuja. You will cross towns like Koton-Karfi, Abaji (border town between Kogi and FCT), Yandoji, Kwali, then Gwagwalada (Gwags) before you get to Giri junction. You can decide to turn right to enter Abuja using the Airport Road, or you can keep going straight to Zuba, and then turn right to enter the Deidei-Kubwa express way (Outer Northern Expressway) which takes you to Gwarinpa, Ministers Hill, Maitama and AYA. Depends on where you want to go.

Transit time:
Lokoja to Abuja: 2 hours.

So your journey will take you between 10 - 12 hours, depending on your speed.

Google Maps are very accurate. They will also help you, but drive behind the transporters. They are your best bet.

stagger:


I've done this before so I can tell you how to do it from practical experience. I am assuming you will follow this route: PH -Enugu -Nsukka - Ankpa - Idah - Ajaokuta - Lokoja - Abuja. I cannot guarantee the safety and the state of the road via the other route that cuts through Patani and Edo state.

Step 1: Ensure all your car papers (including tinted permit) are in order. You will encounter a lot of police checkpoints from Obigbo all the way to Nsukka. From then on, sporadic checkpoints (mostly military) at Itobe bridge, Murtala bridge, etc. Also, leave with a full fuel tank.

Step 2: Your journey starts. Leave PH very early (by 5am) so you avoid the traffic build-up at the bad road points between PH and Aba. Continue along the PH - Enugu expressway. You will cut off at the 4-corner junction before you get to Enugu proper, so you avoid the town. That 4-corner road is a narrow, snaky road on a hill. You have to drive with extreme caution here. Many cars have fallen into that ditch at the side of the road.

This road will ultimately take you to the 9th Mile corner, from where you will proceed along the Enugu-Nsukka road which is very smooth thanks to the Governor or Enugu state who undertook to repair that road on behalf of the Federal Govt. (he has to follow that road to Orba his village, just before Obollo-Afor...what do you think?) You will cross Nsukka, Obollo-Afor and head towards Otukpa/Ankpa (where you will take a major left turn to head into Kogi state). There is a filling station at that junction and you cannot miss it as you will see Peace mass transit and other transport buses taking that turn. Also, there are lots of hawkers there selling stuff like plantain, garri, palmwine, etc. So you cannot miss it.

The journey will take you through several towns along the major road. You will get to a place called Ejule, where you have an NNPC Mega station. If you did not refuel at the mega station close to the Abia Tower at Umuahia, you have to do so now. From there, continue on the major road until you get to where you have some civilization (I think it is called Achabo...not sure again), at a place where you will do a left turn round a round-about towards Idah. Keep watching for the Peace Mass Transit buses. They will give you confidence to know you are on the right track. Try to follow them as well so you know how to navigate the road as well.

The road through Idah will take you back to the major expressway junction, where you will do a left turn towards Ajaokuta. You will cross the Itobe bridge over the River Niger at some point. As you get to the Ajaokuta area, there is a section where the road is bad. So many people now decide to take a turn into the Ajakouta steel complex road, which significantly cuts off the bad portions of the road and shortens the journey by about 30 minutes. You will have to beg the security there and do as they tell you to pass.

When you burst out at the other gate of the steel complex and back into the express, your journey will take you towards two junctions where the road branches out into 4. Be careful here, as a wrong turn will send you into Okene or somewhere else and you will be lost. Again, follow the Peace Mass buses or ask directions to ensure you take the correct turn. Usually, it is a right turn (both times) if you are coming from Ajaokuta axis. This takes you into the Ganaja-Lokoja road. In 20 minutes, you will be in Lokoja. Again, you can do a fuel top-up here.

Time spent so far:
PH - Nsukka (4-5 hours approx).
Nsukka - Lokoja (3 hours)

At Lokoja, take a deserved rest at any of the restaurants. Again, follow the Peace Mass buses or other transporters. You will see where they park to eat.

From Lokoja, you will cross the Murtala Muhammed bridge, en-route to Abuja. You will cross towns like Koton-Karfi, Abaji (border town between Kogi and FCT), Yandoji, Kwali, then Gwagwalada (Gwags) before you get to Giri junction. You can decide to turn right to enter Abuja using the Airport Road, or you can keep going straight to Zuba, and then turn right to enter the Deidei-Kubwa express way (Outer Northern Expressway) which takes you to Gwarinpa, Ministers Hill, Maitama and AYA. Depends on where you want to go.

Transit time:
Lokoja to Abuja: 2 hours.

So your journey will take you between 10 - 12 hours, depending on your speed.

Google Maps are very accurate. They will also help you, but drive behind the transporters. They are your best bet.

Wow. Thanks. Would keep this very close!

Hopefully, would take a lot of pics as I journey and share with you guys. Would snap when I park, of course.

Thanks for this...

@Stagger, can you kindly tell me the average quantity of fuel you burnt?

I'm also planning this ph to Abuja journey next week. My headache is getting a good driver (who is also a mechanic) to drive the car down to Abuja for me.

AfricAryan:
I'm also planning this ph to Abuja journey next week. My headache is getting a good driver (who is also a mechanic) to drive the car down to Abuja for me.

I'm sure if you look around, you may find one. You may want to consult some transport companies too.

As for me, I've decided to do the driving myself. I really love the adventure..

Wish you the best in your search for a driver.

How did the trip from POH to Abuja go? Any updates?

Any follow up here? Fuel estimates?
Hope it went well.
Thanks.

Hi @ all.

Good morning.

I ended up not doing this trip as I didn't trust my car to withstand the stress of the journey.

Regards.