evergreen9:
What's the best way to travel to Cotonou through road? Also how much should one have for at least a 1 week stay in Cotonou ? (accommodation , feeding etc)

Bridie2:
Who wants to visit cotonou after the lockdown? If you are in...reply

Bridie2:
Who wants to visit cotonou after the lockdown? If you are in...reply

gentlebullet:

If you perhaps need a tour guide for your visit to Cotonou and probably Hilla Codji, Lome and Aflao...... I am your � CHEERS

shegzy25:
I want to disvirgin my passport please How can I get my passport stamped without visiting Cotonou and Togo

gentlebullet:

It is people like you that are degrading the Nigerian passport. You think passport control policy is still like in the 90s and early 2000..... You have no idea what PIESICS is all about. It is this system that the Shengen, USA, Canada, etc use to detect the various documents fraud practices Nigerian travel agents are using to deface the passports of unsuspecting potential travelers in the name of non-appearance disvirgin and these countries turns to punish other immigrants from Nigeria by degrading the country's passport.

Oga, it will cost you less than 30k to go on a day return trip to Lome for you to disvirgin your passport yourself and be very confident that the stamps on your passport are genuine and not "oluwole"
Let's us all try in our little way to still give some value to the Nigerian passport! CHEERS

cmoney22222:
Sign me up ooo. I want go open bank account . Anyone with info?

Yampotatocarrot:


Please, how far with this. Were you able to successfully open one?

Yampotatocarrot:


Please, how far with this. Were you able to successfully open one?

TransAtlanticEx:
Hi,sae your message.
Don't have access to the mail,sup?

Yampotatocarrot:


Thanks.

You made mention of increasing price of Cefa against the dollar in the treasury bills thread. Please, do you have any idea on how to buy it or better still opening a bank account, in say Benin Republic? (Heard they still have over $1000 monthly limit there)

TransAtlanticEx:
Yes,I have contact s that can sell to you but unfortunately I can't help you out with any of mine,because I don't want to be caught in the web of any financial mishap.
But you can go to Aba at market road,you'll see many igbo people there changing money for people,then proceed with your transactions.
As for you opening accounts over there,its possible but getting fx from banks over there will be hard for you as you don't have any business there,so what you can do is buy from black market there.
Open your eyes well well...

Yampotatocarrot:


Although I'm more confused, but I appreciate the time you spent replying me.

I'll open my eyes... Thanks

TransAtlanticEx:
Oh okay,maybe you are confused because you weren't explicit enough to tell me what exactly you want.
I don't know what you are asking.

gentlebullet:

It is people like you that are degrading the Nigerian passport. You think passport control policy is still like in the 90s and early 2000..... You have no idea what PIESICS is all about. It is this system that the Shengen, USA, Canada, etc use to detect the various documents fraud practices Nigerian travel agents are using to deface the passports of unsuspecting potential travelers in the name of non-appearance disvirgin and these countries turns to punish other immigrants from Nigeria by degrading the country's passport.

Oga, it will cost you less than 30k to go on a day return trip to Lome for you to disvirgin your passport yourself and be very confident that the stamps on your passport are genuine and not "oluwole"
Let's us all try in our little way to still give some value to the Nigerian passport! CHEERS

pretts:
Hi gentlebullet,

Please I have a few questions to ask you with respect to going to Cotonou for about 3months. I have actually been there several times in the past, but the last time was more than 10years ago so I'm sure a lot would have changed.

I'm actually going there to improve my French proficiency for work related reasons and I'm heading to Cebelae.

However, the issues I have now are:
1) How do I get access to money if I don't want to travel with cash, particularly now when access to funds with the Naira MasterCard is limited? How do people travel around West Africa with substantial amount of money? It's not a lot, but still significant enough to lose.
[b][/b]the word of mouth from few Nigerians that I know who are temporal residents in Cotonou says they always go to seme whenever they are running out of cash to use the ATM on the Nigerian side and then change the cash immediately to CFA and then return back to Cotonou since it cost around cfa1000 for tfare. I personally use my GT bank visa card everywhere and my daily limit is equivalent of $1000 in any currency. This is how it looks like :

2) What would you suggest as the best way to get there considering that I'll have about 2 big bags? Crossing the border on foot is definitely not an option.
[b][/b]Join a vehicle straight from mile 2 or idiroko to Cotonou or any of the transport coy if the borders are opened by then.

3) I have an international passport with Schengen/UK visas, would this still be considered as virgin passport within ECOWAS? Travelling there in the past was through French Village, so our ID was valid then.
[b][/b]If you have traveled previously to Europe with entry and exit stamp on it, you have no problem even though our useless immigration officers will still want to stress you for bribe

4) I don't have a yellow card, Please what would you advise?
[b] Go to port health office at the toll gate before MMIA with your passport and get vaccinated and the card will be issued to you and try as much as possible to get tested for covid-19 and collect the PCR certificate at most 72hours before you embark on the trip.

5) Lastly, I have read of so many issues with police harrassment and I know that you can never say never with these issues in Africa, even as a female. Would my passport and ID card from CEBELAE suffice, or would you advise me to get an additional ID from the Nigerian embassy?
[b][/b]Your passport and CEBELAE ID card is enough. Benin gardarmes hardly harass people so far you no pass your boundary

Please note that I might stay for 3months or just a little longer. Abidjan was my first choice, but considering all the issues surrounding their upcoming election, i have changed my mind at least for now.

I would sincerely appreciate your quick response to help me prepare as I plan to leave at the end of the month. Thanks.

[b][/b]Hope this helps CHEERS

pretts:
Thank you very much...you have been more than helpful. I hope the borders will be opened before the end of the month (fingers crossed). One last question, please is the Gtbank Visa card attached to a Dom account?
You are most welcome. The borders will definitely be opening at most in 3 weeks time since the covid vaccines are now ready to be distributed to African countries.
My GT bank visa card is normal current acct but its Gt bank Ghana so it's a cedi acct. Maybe you should make enquiries at Gt bank in Nigeria if they issue same

cmoney22222:
Testing water, has anyone opened a bank account in Cotonou as a Nigerian n what’s the requirement? Thanks all

Kenox:


Resident permit
Int passport
Prove of business
Photo passports
Letter from landlord

cmoney22222:
Testing water, has anyone opened a bank account in Cotonou as a Nigerian n what’s the requirement? Thanks all

pretts:
Hi @gentlebullet,

Please do you have any new info in respect to reopening the borders, for human movement at least? I understand that the issue with goods is totally separate from the border closure following the pandemic.
Also, please do you have any suggestions on how else I can get to Cotonou with luggage since the transport companies are not currently operating due to border closure? I'm also worried about getting my passport stamped. Honestly, I have no idea when this would be over and school resumption is in the first week of October.
Please do you know what the current rate of XOF is to the Naira?
I'll sincerely appreciate your kind input and that of others on this forum as well.

gentlebullet:

At the first address/session of the new ECOWAS chair ( Ghanaian president) last week to the commission(i was in attendance), there was wide deliberations on when and how member states should open land borders and no conclusion was made cos member's reps on the commission will have to present the commission's suggestions to their home govt.
As it stands now, the promise by pharmaceuticals to likely make the availability of rapid test kits at a low cost is what the region is awaiting so that any documented traveler can be tested at the point of entry for as low as $5 at every land border entry point. We await updates this new week from govts of member states.
According to my plugs in Port Novo, I learnt you can get a vehicle from mile2 to Cotonou codedly and get your passport stamped at idiroko but the fare is in the range of 25k-30k.
For present exchange rates, I don't know at the moment but pm me so I can give you the contact of the vendor who always bring us forex whenever we are in Benin Rep for work. When you call him, he will tell you the current rate so you know how to bargain with them changers at idiroko.
I hope these helps. CHEERS