Report Travel Nigeria part II: Calabar, Benin City.

Once the boat coming from Idenau (Cameroon) arrives in Nigerian territorial waters, it is necessary to undergo 4 checks on Immigration boats and the Nigerian army, which are heavily armed. So before you get to these checks, every time and 4 times you need to raise your hands before approaching. Then you have to give money every time for 4 times for a total amount of 4,000 NGN, which of course I had to pay myself, even if I was in possession of only CFA, EURO and USD, but the boat crew changed my CFA, at the following exchange rate: 10,000 CFA = 6,000 NGN. However the Soldiers of the aforementioned vessels checked my Passport, they asked me some questions but they proved to be kind.

We then arrive at the small town of Oron, where it is necessary to go to the immigration office, to have the entry stamp in Nigeria placed on the passport. Keep in mind that even if you can stay 30 days in Nigeria with a tourist visa, if you declare that you want to stay in Nigeria for only 15 days, the immigration staff will write it on the entry stamp and then you will be forced to leave the country after 15 days. There they will take a picture of you. Then another employee will check your passport, then in the adjacent office you will be checked for the Yellow Fever certificate. The staff proved to be kind.

Keep in mind that in Oron, you can only change CFA, to get NGN. Euro and US Dollars are not accepted here.

To reach Calabar from Oron, it is necessary to take a boat for 1,500 NGN, although the boat I had used to come to Nigeria offered to take me to Calabar immediately for 2,000 NGN and I accepted. The journey took about 40 minutes.

Once I arrived in Calabar, in the southern suburbs of the same, I paid 200 NGN, for a 3-wheeled TUC - TUC that took me to the city center.

From there I took another to reach 500 NGN where I changed currency at the following exchange rates: 1 Euro = 390 NGN, 1 USD = 355 NGN. This exchange rate is obtained with 50 or 100 USD pieces. With pieces of 20 or 10 or 5 USD, you get a much more unfavorable rate.

In Calabar I rested at the Achieves Hotel, located in the city center, for the price of 3,000 NGN, for a double room with en-suite bathroom with water in buckets and fan, without WIFI. There are also rooms with shared bathrooms that cost 2,000 NGN.

 I turned Calabar on foot.

Keep in mind that if you want to go to Lagos, Ibadan, Benin City and Abuja, you have to go to the Calabar Bus Station, in front of the Central Market, before seven in the morning.

There at the desk I got the ticket for Benin city at the cost of 5,000 NGN and I got on a Minibus, which took me to the Peace Mass Transit Bus Terminal, where I registered and then I boarded a Minibus to Ibadan, which stops also in Benin City. I waited almost an hour before the bus moved. The journey lasted about 9 hours.

The first part of the road to the city of Aba is in very bad condition. There are many checkpoints where they checked my passport and yellow fever certificate. On one occasion the policeman politely asked me for a small tip and I gave him 500 NGN, while on the other occasion the Soldier was more decisive asking me to pay 1,000 NGN, because I had crossed the bridge over the Cross River near Ikot Essien . I gave them to him.

In Benin City the aforementioned minibus left me on the eastern outskirts of the same in Località Iguomo, about 12 km from the city center.

From there, to reach the Ring Road, and that is the big roundabout, which represents the fulcrum of Benin City, I took a collective taxi paying it 200 NGN

In Benin City I rested at the Lixborr Hotel located in the center of the city, on Sakponba Road at 100 meters. from Ring. Road and in front of Brass Casters Street, famous for the Bronzes, for the price of 7,500 NGN, for a double room with private bathroom, hot water, air conditioning, magnetic card, fan, non working WIFI.

Benin City, turns well on foot.

The description of the trip complete with the map, photographs and videos is available at this link: https://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2019/07/viaggio-in-gabon-libreville-lambarene.html