What's The Distance Between Lagos Airport And Benin City?

I've traveled by bus numerous times from Lagos to Benin City and, if it's only 210 miles, it is the longest, hardest 210 miles ever. The road is definitely not "the best in Nigeria". It's full of ruts, potholes, sections that are closed where the driver must use the oncoming lane, military and police checkpoints which your driver will most likely have to bribe his way out of while you wait by the side of the road (because the driver is smuggling contraband). Scariest experience I had on that particular stretch: having a soldier aim his machine gun at the windshield of our bus because the driver refused to stop to have his bus searched. The 4 hour trip from Lagos to Benin City cost me 1000 Naira (coincidentally the same fare I paid to get from the domestic terminal to the international terminal in Lagos).

Assuming your plane arrives in the evening, from the airport, you should have a taxi driver take you to a gated hotel; if traveling by road, you'll definitely want to make the journey from Lagos to Benin City during the day. Travel by night is just asking for it. I've stayed at the Lagos Airport Hotel in Ikeja. It's safe, the room was acceptable and breakfast was included. The staff seemed professional and courteous. If you're there on business and the company's paying, you'll probably prefer staying in a luxury hotel on Victoria Island. Since the Nigerian Naira is a restricted currency, you will probably have to get Euros exchanged to Naira at the hotel; I got a 1 euro=130 Naira rate in August 2006. The room deposit was 16000 Naira. Breakfast for non-guests was 1200 Naira.

I strongly, strongly recommend that you avoid traveling by road at all costs. If I had a dollar for every serious accident I'd seen on the roadside (with no emergency services in sight, just "Okada" motorcycle taxis ferrying the injured off to the nearest hospital)...

There are several reliable airlines: Arik Air, Aero, Virgin Nigeria. These better airlines are about twice the normal price, running about 12000 Naira for a one-way ticket from Lagos to Benin City, but well worth it to avoid the road. After the disastrous series of air-catastrophes in 2006, Obasanjo commissioned an airline safety commission to conduct safety inspections, grounding several of the worst-maintained airlines. The feeling at that time was that even the cheap flights at 6000 Naira had been certified airworthy or they would have been grounded. But, Nigerian government commissions are usually ineffective and corrupt so I'd personally rather fly with one of the more expensive airlines.

Lagos Airport is 100% perfectly safe INSIDE the secure area of the terminal where only ticket-holders are allowed. Even outside in the check-in area I only experienced one guy trying to run a scam on me to "help" me get a wood-carving past inspection (your bags are inspected LEAVING the country, not entering!). But even outside the secure area, both at the international and domestic terminal, the only real danger I experienced there was taxi drivers thinking they could charge me twice what they'd charge a Nigerian. The taxi drivers were never overly pushy, though, just wanting your business. Otherwise everyone in the immigration and baggage claim area was courteous, polite and helpful. Basically Lagos airport is a little oasis of the "first world" in the middle of Nigeria; not filthy or dodgy at all. If you spend any time in Nigeria, you'll be amazed how clean and "western" the airport seems. As of December 2006, a new domestic terminal was being added on to Murtala Mohammed (Lagos) Airport to eliminate the need to take a taxi between the two terminals.

Arriving in Benin City, in all likelihood, you will have your Nigerian host meeting you at the airport. There are of course taxis waiting, but mostly Okada's (motorcycle taxis). If you want to risk becoming injured in a country with no emergency medical services, then an Okada is a quick way to get through the insane gridlocks that plague the ubiquitous unregulated intersections (critical mass regulates intersections). Otherwise, if there are no passenger car taxis waiting in front of the terminal, you can likely hire a car for just yourself just by walking out onto Airport road, or simply hop onto one of the many, many privately operated minibuses that serve as public transportation in Benin City. Believe me, it was absolutely a milestone when regular city busses and cabs were introduced in the capital city Abuja in 2006. There is NO other public transportation anywhere in the country. The mini-busses in Abuja are dilapidated, packed with people, filthy, noisy (usually a loud stereo system booming) and there are very few discernible traffic rules. But in a way they're great fun and a quick way to get around town. The central hub connecting the different unofficial routes is the huge traffic circle where Airport and Sakpoba road meet. A trip across town usually doesn't cost more than around 50 Naira.

When in Benin City, be sure and stop in at Madame Suzy's restaurant (corner of Sakpoba and First East Circular) for some pounded yam and egussi. Tell her the oyibo from Denmark says hi.