Travel to Benin Republic From Nigeria – All You Need to Know

Travelling to Benin Republic From Nigeria – All You Have to Know
If you’re planning to go to the Republic of Benin from Nigeria, this publish is for you. It’ll cowl every part it’s good to find out about crossing one of many busiest borders in West Africa. It’ll additionally cowl the associated fee, the place to remain, locations to go to and so on. The Benin republic/Nigeria border is in a city known as Seme. The Nigeria Benin border is popularly known as the Seme Border.

Concerning the Republic of Benin

The Republic of Benin is without doubt one of the many nations that share a border with Nigeria. Different nations that share a border with Nigeria embody Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republic. Benin Republic shares a border with Nigeria at Seme in Lagos State and round Idi Iroko in Ogun. Seme is a couple of minutes drive from Badagry. The nation was previously referred to as Dahomey. It was, nonetheless, renamed Benin in 1975.

The Capital of Benin Republic is in Port Novo. Nonetheless, the preferred metropolis in Benin Republic is Cotonou. It is usually the financial capital of Benin Republic. The nation was colonized by France. It obtained its independence on August 1, 1960. The official language of the Republic of Benin is French.

The Republic of Benin is dwelling to pristine seashores, sturdy tradition, wildlife, and exquisite vacationer sights.

Necessities For visiting Benin Republic from Nigeria

For Nigerians planning on visiting Benin Republic, the next are the necessities:

1. Nigerian Passport: Nigerians visiting Benin Republic must current their Worldwide Passport on the border. The Nigerian Worldwide Passports is a doc issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service.
2. The Yellow Fever Card: The second requirement is the yellow Fever card. This yellow card is proof that you’ve obtained a dose of the yellow fever vaccine. The cardboard can also be for retaining information of vaccines required to go to different nations. You’ll be able to solely journey after ten days of getting the dose.

Additionally Learn: How to Get A Yellow Fever Card

Vaccines To Take Earlier than Visiting Benin Republic

Make sure you take these two vaccines earlier than you go to Benin republic. If you don’t, you’ll have points with the Port well being on the border. Once you go for the yellow fever vaccine, make sure you ask them for Meningitis too. They’ll most likely repair one other date for that. These are the 2 primary vaccines it’s good to take earlier than visiting Benin Republic.

1. Yellow fever vaccine: This vaccine is to guard you towards yellow fever
2. Meningitis Vaccines:

The Languages

French is the official language. The opposite languages embody Yoruba, Fon and a Gbe languages. These are the indigenous languages of the Republic of Benin. They’re all thought of nationwide languages.

Foreign money

The official foreign money of the Republic of Benin is Cefa, additionally it is referred to as the West African CFA Franc. It comes within the following denomination.
Cash 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200
Notes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20000

Find out how to Get To the Republic of Benin Via Seme Border

If you’re on the lookout for stress-free entry. You may get a direct bus to the Republic of Benin from Lagos. These are some main transport corporations that go to Benin Republic Efex, ABC transport, Chisco Group Transport and so on. They’ll deal with the border protocols, the stamping and so on. They provide air-conditioned buses.

Nonetheless, in case you are on a low finances or an adventurer like me, you’ll be able to determine to do the stamping by yourself.
From Ikeja board a bus to Egbeda – 200 to 300 Naira
At Egbeda board one other bus to Iyana Iba – 300 Naira
From Iyana Iba board a bus or automobile to Badagry – 500 to 700 Naira

When you get to Badagry, get a bus going to Seme. Inform the driving force you’ll cease on the border. Please observe they might scare you that stamping is tough, don’t thoughts them. Simply ignore and inform them to cease you on the border.
On the border, simply stroll straight into the advanced. Ask for the place to stamp, and do it your self.
When you stamp your passport, you’ll undergo one other set of routine checks by Port Well being who will ask to your yellow fever card.
Then one other routine verify by the NDLEA and customs.

Relying on the place you might be coming from, in case you are coming from the mainland round Ikeja and environs, you’ll be able to undergo Egbada, Iyana Iba axis. If you’re coming from Oshodi, you could have to undergo Mile

Crossing to the Seme Border

On the park, the driving force could attempt to cost you to cross the border, simply inform them to cease you on the border you’ll deal with the border protocols your self.

As soon as you might be approaching the border’s small gate, flash your Passport, it will grant you entry into the premises and typically it’s possible you’ll get questioned by the Immigration officers on responsibility. You’ll be able to transfer to the purpose the place you’ll be able to stamp your passport.
To stamp your passport, you may be requested pay some cash. Nicely this shouldn’t be the case however it’s what it’s.
For virgin passports, you’ll pay 1,000 or extra relying in your negotiation energy and for already stamped passports, you’ll pay 500 Naira.

As soon as your passports have been stamped,
You’ll undergo the Port well being who will ask to your yellow fever card, then the customs who can even attempt to verify your baggage, then the NDLEA who can even verify for medication and different forbidden substances,
As soon as you might be clear, you’ll transfer to the Benin facet the place you’ll undergo one other verify.

Suggestions Once you get to Benin

1. Perceive the Nation: The very first thing it’s best to do is to grasp the nation, their foreign money, trade charges and so on. You must also know some primary legal guidelines of the nation. Additionally, it’s best to familiarise your self with among the beliefs and tradition.
2. Change your cash from naira to Cefa: The very first thing it’s best to do is to alter from Naira to Cefa. Please don’t depend on your ATM card. It could not work there on account of CBN restrictions.
3. Maintain Your Transport Fare: As a rule, guarantee you’ve got the transport that may take you from the border to your own home saved individually. That is to keep away from spending your transport fare whenever you journey.
   Please hold your transport fare separate out of your different cash.
4. Get a SIM card: Nigerian networks don’t work over there except you roam them. Nonetheless, the community firm will excessively whenever you make and obtain calls. Due to this fact it’s possible you’ll must get a Benin SIM card. I’ll recommend both MTN or Airtel. When you get that, you might load it up and activate web connections, it will prevent quite a lot of stress.
5. Get a Common Adapter: they use a distinct form of socket totally different from those we’ve right here. You should get a common adapter that may mean you can plug in your gadget. This is essential, it might be tough getting one when you step out of the border.
6. Get an English talking driver: Search for an English talking driver to take you to your vacation spot. It will assist you to with the language barrier. If you will take one other bus after attending to your vacation spot, you may additionally inform the driving force that can assist you out.
7. Study primary Vocabulary: It is best to study primary vocabulary like bonjour(good morning), Bonsoir (good night), Anglais (English). And so on

Issues to Do at Benin Republic

1. Benefit from the Avenue Meals: The very first thing you’ll discover whenever you go to Benin is the presence of avenue meals distributors all over the place. Avenue meals is in style right here. Get adventurous and have a style of the road meals.
2. Go to the Python Temple: The temple of the pythons has grow to be one of many main vacationer sights in Benin Republic.
3. The Slave Route: That is the journey to the unique slave route in Benin. You additionally get to see the door of no return. It’s the place the place slaves are shipped to Europe and different unknown locations, by no means to return once more.
4. Go to the Nationwide Park: Benin Republic has a wealthy nature and wildlife expertise. A go to to the Nationwide parks will blow your thoughts.
5. Attend a Pageant: The nation has a wealthy cultural heritage, it’s best to attend considered one of its cultural festivals.
6. Go to the Seaside: Benin Republic is a coastal nation with totally different seashores. Benefit from the blue skies, the pristine seaside sand and the beauties of its lovely seashores.

The Value of Visiting Benin Republic

Transport to Badagry Between 1,000 to 2,000 (relies on the place you keep in Lagos)
From Badagry to Seme 500 to 1,500 (Depends upon whether or not you employ a bus, automobile or bike)
Crossing on the Border (between 1,000 and a couple of,500) relies on your negotiation energy and in case you are utilizing a virgin passport or an already stamped one
From Seme to Cotonou (1500 to 2,500)

Complete – Between 4,500 and seven,000

Lodges In Benin Republic

Lodges are reasonably priced in Benin Republic, the price of a typical resort in Benin varies from 6,000 Naira per evening to fifteen,000. Although there are dearer ones between 20,000 to 150,000 per evening.

Lodges in Benin Republic

• Le Jardin Secret
• Diaspora Auberge
• Lodge Dk
• Auberge de Grand Popo
• Lodge La Casa Cielo
• Lodge de la Diaspora

Vacationer Sights in Benin Republic

• There are such a lot of vacationer sights in Benin Republic
• Zinsou Basis Museum
• Pythons Temple
• Slave Highway
• Bab’s Dock
• Ganvie
• Grand Popo
• Fidjirosse Seaside
• The Cotonou Littoral Monument

Variations Between Nigeria and Benin republic

Roads: Benin republic has much better roads than Nigeria can ever think about. All the main freeway are tarred. All through my keep, I didn’t encounter a single pothole within the locations I visited. This isn’t an exaggeration, all the main highways are tarred.

Facilities: They’ve primary facilities like good roads, avenue mild, water and so on.

Growth: When it comes to improvement, Nigeria is way extra developed than the Republic of Benin. It’s uncommon to see a brand new main development across the metropolis.

Knowledge: Web Knowledge is fairly costly right here within the Republic of Benin in comparison with Nigeria.

Highway indicators: There are street indicators on each avenue, each freeway.

Driving: Driving right here is simply too sane that I used to be nearly freaking out. LOL.

Automobiles: There are extra unique vehicles in Nigeria than within the Republic of Benin. I hardly see the newest vehicles round.

Transportation: A lot of the residents personal bikes, bikes are one of many in style technique of transportation on this nation. It is usually quite common to see girls using bikes.