Getting Around Alasia

Getting Around Nigeria: A Practical Guide

Nigeria is a large, sprawling country where the traffic in major cities can look chaotic at first glance but generally keeps moving. Most visitors find they get the hang of it within a day or two. This guide covers the main ways to move around, how to pay for them, and how to get in from the airport.

How Travellers Get Around

Public and private mass transit in Nigeria covers a wide range: taxis, buses, motorcycle taxis, tricycles, trains, boats, and domestic flights. For a visitor, the practical day-to-day choices usually come down to ride-hailing apps, taxis, buses, and the light rail, with motorcycle taxis and tricycles filling in the gaps for short trips.

Rail, Metro and Tram Network

Nigeria's rail network is best understood in two parts: the city light rail and the national rail lines that connect different regions.

• Light rail: Lagos's light rail runs between Marina and Mile 2. It is part of the same fare system as the BRT buses and scheduled ferries, so a single card can cover all three.
• National rail: The federal government has been rebuilding rail infrastructure after decades of abandonment. Three lines are in daily use: Lagos–Ibadan, Itakpe–Warri, and Abuja–Kaduna. Each route takes around three hours.
• On board: The trains are new, air-conditioned, and punctual. Ticket classes are economy, business, and first class.
• Buying tickets: Rail tickets must be booked in person at the train station. There is no online booking.
• Example trip: An 8am train from Lagos goes to Abeokuta (home of Olumo Rock), returning from Abeokuta's Professor Wole Soyinka Station at 4pm.

There is no tram network to speak of; the light rail and the national lines are the rail options a visitor will actually use.

Buses and Other Public Transport

Buses are the workhorse of Nigeria's public transport, and the BRT corridor is the easiest part of the system for a visitor to use.

• BRT (Bus Rapid Transport): Hundreds of high-capacity buses run on dedicated lanes. This is the closest thing the country has to a formal, legible bus network.
• Paying: The Cowry Card works on the BRT corridor, scheduled ferry services, and the light rail. It is available from BRT bus shelters and terminals.
• Ferries and water taxis: Privately-owned companies licensed by the Lagos State Waterways Authority operate at least 30 routes from jetties including Marina, Ajah, Badore, Ikorodu, and Mile 12. There are no regular schedules outside morning and evening peak demand hours. On weekends, boats are used more for leisure cruises on the lagoon.
• Hiring a boat: Ferries or water taxis can be hired for the day at Five Cowries Terminal, Falomo, Ikoyi, for visits to private beach houses, resorts, and towns like Epe and Badagry. Boats carry 10–50 passengers, with drivers and assistants. Book at least 72 hours in advance.
• Motorcycle taxis (okada): Found almost everywhere, usually at dedicated spots on neighborhood streets and main roads. Riders typically wear uniforms varying by state, most commonly a short-sleeved reflective jacket. Some operate in ranked queues; others compete for passengers, especially at rush hour. Book one by approaching a driver or flagging one down, and tell the driver your destination. Helmets are mandated by the Federal Road Safety Corps, but enforcement is minimal. Okadas are banned outright in Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Rivers, Enugu, and the Federal Capital Territory, and in Lagos they are restricted to suburban areas.
• Tricycles (keke): Kekes complement okadas in many cities and are used for short rides under half an hour. Where okadas are banned — private estates and gated residencies — kekes are the only alternative. In Jalingo, there are hardly any taxis or okadas, so kekes are the main option. Note the curfews: kekes must be off the road at 6pm in Jos and 9pm in Lagos.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing

Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the most straightforward option for visitors who want a door-to-door trip without learning the bus routes.

• Ride-hailing: Uber and Bolt have grown in use and popularity over the last decade and are available in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states. Fares per mile are comparatively cheaper than cabs, particularly outside Lagos — for example in Ibadan, Abuja, and Calabar.
• Taxis ("drop"): A "drop" is a private cab or keke. Flag one down by waving and saying "drop." Drivers "blowing empty" (without passengers) look for fares on the street.
• Recognising licensed cabs: Licensed cab colours vary by state, and all commercial vehicles have licence plates printed in red. Lagos approved taxis are yellow with double black stripes; Delta State light blue; Abuja green with double white stripes; Akwa Ibom orange.

Walkability

Walking is possible in some neighbourhoods but is not the primary way people get around, and Nigerian cities are not designed around pedestrians.

• Cycling: More Nigerians ride bicycles, mostly on weekends when traffic is light. There are no dedicated bicycle lanes anywhere, including Abuja's wide tarmacked roads. Bicycle clubs organise regular rides.
• Bike-sharing: The AWA Bike scheme lets you book and lock bicycles via an app; it is mainly used in Lagos with stations around the city.
• Good places to ride: Campuses (Pan Atlantic University, Redeemer's University), stadiums (Lagos National Stadium, Teslim Balogun Stadium), the Ikoyi and Victoria Island neighbourhoods, and residential estates around the Lekki–Epe axis.
• Accessibility: Accessible transportation is virtually non-existent in Nigeria. The Lagos BRT is the closest to accessible transport, but seats marked for persons with disabilities are usually taken by other passengers, and buses are often overcrowded. Many wheelchair ramps on Nigerian buses are in disrepair.

Getting from the Airport into the City

For reaching the city from the airport, the practical options are a taxi, a ride-hailing car, or a pre-arranged transfer. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt are widely used and generally cheaper per mile than cabs, particularly outside Lagos, so they are a good default if you have data and a working app. Licensed taxis are also available; look for the state's approved colour scheme and the red-printed commercial licence plates so you know you are in a licensed vehicle. If you are arriving late or want the trip arranged in advance, a pre-booked transfer removes the need to negotiate on arrival.

If your onward journey is to another region rather than into the city centre, note that Nigeria is larger than all US states except Alaska, and some destinations are unreachable by road or rail. Private airlines dominate domestic travel and serve 32 airports; most domestic flights last around an hour, longer with layovers, and are relatively cheap. Flight delays are common, but the first flights of the day almost always leave on schedule — worth remembering if you are connecting.

Practical Notes on Tickets and Passes

• Cowry Card: Lagos is the only state with anything close to a transport pass. The Cowry Card works on the BRT corridor, scheduled ferry services, and the light rail (Marina to Mile 2). Buy it from BRT bus shelters and terminals.
• Rail tickets: Must be booked in person at the train station.
• Boats: Book at least 72 hours in advance for hired ferries or water taxis.
• Inter-state travel: Minibuses and cars are the budget options for daytime inter-state journeys. Coaches leave overnight for longer drives of 10 hours or more.