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

Travelling to Benin Republic From Nigeria – All You Must Know
In case you are planning to go to the Republic of Benin from Nigeria, this submit is for you. It would cowl every little thing you might want to find out about crossing one of many busiest borders in West Africa. It would additionally cowl the fee, the place to remain, locations to go to and so on. The Benin republic/Nigeria border is in a city referred to as Seme. The Nigeria Benin border is popularly referred to as the Seme Border.

Concerning the Republic of Benin

The Republic of Benin is without doubt one of the many international locations that share a border with Nigeria. Different international locations 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 generally known as Dahomey. It was, nevertheless, renamed Benin in 1975.

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

The Republic of Benin is house to pristine seashores, sturdy tradition, wildlife, and delightful vacationer points of interest.

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 got acquired a dose of the yellow fever vaccine. The cardboard can be for maintaining information of vaccines required to go to different international locations. You possibly can 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 should have points with the Port well being on the border. Whenever you go for the yellow fever vaccine, make sure you ask them for Meningitis too. They are going to in all probability repair one other date for that. These are the 2 primary vaccines you might want 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-about nationwide languages.

Forex

The official forex of the Republic of Benin is Cefa, it’s also generally known 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

The way to Get To the Republic of Benin By way of Seme Border

In case you are in search of stress-free entry. You will 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 are going to 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 may resolve 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 word 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 complicated. 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 may undergo Egbada, Iyana Iba axis. In case you are coming from Oshodi, you will 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, this may grant you entry into the premises and generally chances are you’ll get questioned by the Immigration officers on obligation. You possibly can transfer to the purpose the place you may stamp your passport.
To stamp your passport, you can be requested pay some cash. Properly 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 may also attempt to verify your baggage, then the NDLEA who may also verify for medicine 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.

Ideas Whenever you get to Benin

1. Perceive the Nation: The very first thing you need to do is to know the nation, their forex, change charges and so on. You also needs to know some primary legal guidelines of the nation. Additionally, you need to familiarise your self with among the beliefs and tradition.
2. Change your cash from naira to Cefa: The very first thing you need to do is to vary from Naira to Cefa. Please don’t depend on your ATM card. It might not work there resulting from CBN restrictions.
3. Preserve Your Transport Fare: As a rule, guarantee you will have the transport that can take you from the border to your own home saved individually. That is to keep away from spending your transport fare if you journey.
   Please preserve your transport fare separate out of your different cash.
4. Get a SIM card: Nigerian networks don’t work over there until you roam them. Nonetheless, the community firm will excessively if you make and obtain calls. Due to this fact chances are you’ll have to get a Benin SIM card. I’ll counsel both MTN or Airtel. When you get that, you can load it up and activate web connections, this may prevent quite a lot of stress.
5. Get a Common Adapter: they use a unique type of socket totally different from those we’ve right here. It’s worthwhile to get a common adapter that can let you plug in your machine. This is essential, it could 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. This can allow you to with the language barrier. If you’re going to take one other bus after attending to your vacation spot, you may additionally inform the driving force that will help you out.
7. Study primary Vocabulary: It’s best to study primary vocabulary like bonjour(good morning), Bonsoir (good night), Anglais (English). And so forth

Issues to Do at Benin Republic

1. Benefit from the Avenue Meals: The very first thing you’ll discover if you go to Benin is the presence of avenue meals distributors in every single place. Avenue meals is widespread 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 points of interest 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 Competition: The nation has a wealthy cultural heritage, you need to attend one in every of its cultural festivals.
6. Go to the Seashore: Benin Republic is a coastal nation with totally different seashores. Benefit from the blue skies, the pristine seashore sand and the beauties of its lovely seashores.

The Price 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 utilize a bus, automobile or bike)
Crossing on the Border (between 1,000 and a pair 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

Inns In Benin Republic

Inns are reasonably priced in Benin Republic, the price of a typical lodge in Benin varies from 6,000 Naira per night time to fifteen,000. Although there are costlier ones between 20,000 to 150,000 per night time.

Inns in Benin Republic

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

Vacationer Sights in Benin Republic

• There are such a lot of vacationer points of interest in Benin Republic
• Zinsou Basis Museum
• Pythons Temple
• Slave Street
• Bab’s Dock
• Ganvie
• Grand Popo
• Fidjirosse Seashore
• 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 most important 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 most important highways are tarred.

Facilities: They’ve primary facilities like good roads, avenue gentle, 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 building across the metropolis.

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

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

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

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

Transportation: A lot of the residents personal bikes, bikes are one of many widespread technique of transportation on this nation. It’s also quite common to see ladies using bikes.