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Nigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025
  • Ron's Odyssey
  • Ron's Odyssey

Nigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025

A 10-day adventure by Ron's Odyssey Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 9, 2025
    Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Morning in Lagos

    May 9, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Had an early morning (8:00am) huddle session with the entire SC function. My department was facilitating the session, so I had to give the opening talk and set the scene. It was a 1hr event, but I had to leave mid way to the airport for my flight to Abuja.

    Checked out of the hotel at about 8:30 took a Bolt to the airport and checked into Ibom Air for my flight.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Arrived Abuja

    May 9, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Arrived Abuja about 12:30. Tried to order a bolt, but they kept declining my request. So I had to get an expensive (17,000.00) airport taxi to Idu train station.

    The drive to the train station was long and took 45 minutes.Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    At Idu Train Station

    May 9, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

    The train station reminded me of the one in Lagos. Similar internal design.

    A security man at the door checked and scanned the barcode on the tickets before allowing you into the waiting hall.

    At 2:45pm boarding announcement was made. Again the ticket was scanned to open the barrier to the platform. There were escalators to the train platform

    The train departed the station at 3:00pm sharp.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Stopped at Kubwa station

    May 9, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    Stopped at Kubwa station to pick up additional passengers. Surprisingly, my seat mate who joined at Kubwa was a kaduna based youtuber Favour Skye, I have been following for a while and communicating with. In fact when I first mooted the idea of visiting kaduna I had enquired from her how safe the city was.

    Sadly, the train window was fogged up, and I couldn't see outside well.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Arrived Kaduna

    May 9, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    After a 2hr 30min train ride we pulled into Rigasa Station in Kaduna. The train ride was smooth and comfortable, although the seats were compressed and not as comfortable as they ought to be.

    I took a taxi for 10,000 Naira from the train station to the hotel in Barnawa. First impression, well tarred roads, developed city with modern infrastructures.

    The hotel has modern facilities, and my room had a balcony facing the road.

    I had Egusi with poundo yam and goat meat all costing less than 6,000 Naira. Food appears to be cheaper in Kaduna.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Kaduna Sightseeing

    May 10, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    The day started off with a visit to a local Hausa restaurant to eat Tuwo Shinkafa with groundnut soup and goat meat.

    After the tasty local meal, I got a keke to take me on a tour of Kaduna city riding through Kaduna South and Kaduna North. I got a good view of the well developed city.

    The keke eventually dropped me off at Kaduna State Univeristy (KASU), founded in 2004. The university campus is compact and of medium size with lots of faculty & departmental buildings. It is well built and laid out. The university security were concerned that I was taking pictures and filming. I was able to convince 2 at different points but the last one at the exit gate was adamant that I shouldn't take pictures fortunately it was the last picture I wanted to snap.

    From the university we took another keke to Gamji Park to see the crocodiles . Sadly, the park was undergoing massive renovation, and there were no crocodiles. Interestingly, the name Kaduna indicates city of crocodiles. I was able to walk around the park and take lots of pictures and videos.

    The weather was very hot at 35 degrees celcius. At this point, I was thirsty, so we headed to Ahmed Musa centre. Ahmed Musa is a professional Nigerian footballer playing professional league in Europe. It is a nice neighbourhood sport centre with a small stadium and football pitch, event centre for weddings and a lounge which they use for Thursday vibes. I had a cold, well appreciated beer and relaxed for an hour before returning to the hotel.

    Rounded off the day with a visit to Club Jodeci.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Birthday

    May 11, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    Got back from the club after 2am.

    Was woken up by birthday calls from family and friends. Had boiled yam with fish source for brunch.

    Watched Shadow Force at Silverbirds Cinema at Galaxy Mall. Cinema hall looked luxurious with sofa seats arranged in pairs with a table and cupholdersRead more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Dinner at Delluna

    May 11, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Took a Bolt to Delluna Cook and Grill for a birthday dinner. Ordered marinated lamb with white rice. The food was good. Sadly, they don't serve alcohol there, so I have freshly squeezed orange juice.

    After the meal, we relocated to the bowling alley where I had my 1st bowling experience and won after applying a bit of applied physics and engineering to the play.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Visit to Arewa House

    May 12, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Stopped at Disney Chicken for Jollof Rice with goat meat brunch. The food was salty and didn't taste like Jollof rice but was quite cheap. Thereafter hired a keke to Arewa House. Unfortunately, they were on lunch break when I arrived. So I used the opportunity to walk around the compound, which was the former residence of the Premier of the Northern Region during the first Republic.

    Went to the library. Met with the deputy Liberian. Introduced myself and asked if they had some info on Norther Nigeria I could go through. He came back with a book and later another with pictures of prominent northerners who were involved in the creation of the Northern Region.

    At 1:30, I went back to the library, paid the entrance fee of 500 Naira, and was given a tour of Sadauna Ahmadu Bello's life. Thereafter, I was taken to his house, also located in the same compound and saw his palour, bedroom, wives quarters, as well as where he was shot by the coupist in 1966.

    Post leaving Arewa house, the chartered Keke was told to pass through the iconic Kaduna bridge with the graffiti on the way to Zeecool Hotel, where we sat beside the pool relaxing having a few beer and goat meat pepper soup.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Daparting Kaduna

    May 13, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Was woken up early by a phone call from a colleague. Packed my box and ordered Rice with stew fish for breakfast.

    Checked out of the hotel at 11 am. Bolt driver took the bypass road, claiming it wasn't decongested with traffic but rough and undergoing construction and expansion. 45 mins later, we were at Rigasa train station. Driver said he wanted his payment by transfer, not through Bolt as Bolt is owing him and not remitting his money. He tried to cancel the ride but couldn't. Claimed that if he rebooted his phone, it would be gone, which I doubt. Anyway, I transferred the 8,000 he requested for only to be debited by Bolt for the same ride, resulting in double payment.

    Rigasa train station was crowded. The waiting room is not large enough to accommodate all the passengers, resulting in a lot of people standing.

    We were allowed to board early, and alas, I had selected a window seat with a cracked window    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    On my way to Abuja

    May 13, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

    Train started moving at 1:30pm sharp. Sadly, I wasn't able to change to a good window seat as the train was full. So instead, I moved to the aisle seat beside my original seat that way, I could look across through the opposite window and see a bit of the countryside but no filming.

    The vegetation is mainly flat savanna grass land with trees spaced out    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Arrived Abuja

    May 13, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Based on the advice I got from the YouTuber that it is easier to get a taxi or Bolt at Kubwa train station, I decided to book my Kaduna train ticket to Kubwa instead of Idu.

    Subway train station is within a developed part of Abuja with lots of buildings and businesses around. Getting a taxi to the hotel was very easy. On the way from the station, I passed by a Taj Bank branch with a giant flag of Nigeria. The only other country I have seen giant flags is Canada.

    Drive to the hotel was less than 30 minutes. Abuja has the best roads in Nigeria, wide, smooth, and porthole free.

    After check-in, I ordered fisherman soup. The food cost about 3 times what an equivalent meal in the kaduna hotel went for.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Museum and Monuments

    May 14, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    After a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, I ordered a Bolt to the Discovery museum. On getting to the museum, I was told that there was a school tour ongoing for the 11am and 12 noon slots, and I was told to come back at 1pm. So I decided to head off to the National museum which according to the internet, is located at the National Commission for Museum and Monuments HQ. The Bolt took me to the federal secretariat complet, and I navigated my way to the office Block C 1st floor. On getting there, I was told that after moving to this office, they had nowhere to display their collection of artifacts and collections. It ended up being a wasted journey.

    Leaving the museum, I headed to the Millenium Park, which was opened in 2003 by Queen Elizabeth. The park is quite big, with a stream flowing through it. The grasses well manicured, and the landscaping was very pleasant to the eyes. Best of all, Zuma rock could be seen in the background, making the location very picturesque. I spent over an hour in the pack enjoying the cool breeze under the trees and the pleasant sight.

    From the Millenuim park, I got a Bolt to take me to Tribe Afrik Restaurant, which I saw on Google search, but the alas on getting there, we could not locate the restaurant. Apparently, they were no longer at that location or gone out of business. So the driver suggested a new and popular restaurant, Yakoyo at the CBD.

    Yakoyo was quite busy. It seems to be a popular eatery for office workers in the CBD area. Iy had a vast collection of food which you point to for the ser ing ladies to dish out for you. I ate Asaro (Yam Porridge with Goat meat), which was nice.

    After the meal, I went back to the Discovery Museum to catch the 3pm tour. The tour fee was NGN 6,000.00. The museum is lovely put together in a very informative way using modern digital technology to enhance the presentation.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Abuja Sightseeing

    May 15, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Hired my Bolt driver from yesterday to drive me around Phase 1 of Abuja, comprising of Maitama, Wuse, Garaki, Asokoro, and the Central Area at a rate of 6,000/hr.

    At 10 am. prompt, he was already in the hotel car park waiting for me. The entire drive around took 3 hours. We got close to one of the Aso Rock gates as well as the National Assembly gate.

    After the drive around, I visited Jabi Mall to watch a movie titled Sinners, and then I headed off to Blake Resort for dinner.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Back to Lagos

    May 16, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Checked out of the hotel at 10am and took an Bolt to the Airport. Bought kilichi for Mama at the airport. Checkin was smooth. The flight took off a few minutes after the scheduled time and we arrived Lagos an hour later.

    My luggage came off the conveyor belt quickly this time around and on exiting the arrival hall I met our office protocol officer who took me to the company bus. Even though it was a private travel I was still able to make use of the office bus and save a lot of money. The bus dropped me off at Eko hotel along with other colleagues staying there on company visit. I then hailed a Bolt to take me to my hotel in Lekki Phase 1. This was a hotel I used to stay in years back when the kids were schooling in Lagos. Not surprisingly, their rates have increased two and a half times.

    After checkin I strolled down to Foodies on Admiralty an Abula style restaurant for a late lunch. The meal was much cheaper than eating in the hotel.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Owambe

    May 17, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ 🌧 30 °C

    Was too tired to stroll down to Bay's lounge as planned for grilled fish, so I stayed in the hotel and slept off.

    Had breakfast at Foodies, then bought some things at Ebano supermarket.

    At about 5pm, it started raining heavily. My bathroom started leaking with water coming out of the floor drains flooding the bathroom. I called the housekeeper but apparently it was happening to many rooms in the hotel.

    At 6 pm, I hailed a Bolt to take me to the venue of the party. It took the Bolt 45 minutes to arrive. The roads were flooded even the hotel premises were as well but this receeded as soon as the rain stopped. On Arrival, the Bolt driver said we should wait to allow the water level on the road to reduce, and this wait took another 30mims. I eventually got to the venue of the Owambe at 8:20pm.

    The Owambe was a grand occasion. My friend Eyado was celebrating the wife's 50th birthday ceremony, and he did it in Lagos style    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyNigeria - Kaduna & Abuja 2025Traveler

    Going back home

    May 18, 2025 in Nigeria ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Woke up at 4:40am and couldn't sleep again. So I got up to pack my things and get ready to head out to the airport for my flight back to Port Harcourt.

    By 6;30am I had checked out of the hotel and hailed a Bolt which picked me up at 6:45. Got to the airport at 7:20am and had to wait till about 8:00am when checkin started.

    Had a burger at Burger King at the departure hall.

    Flight left Lagos on time and arrived in PH shortly before noon. On exiting the airport I located the office protocol team who lead me to the office bus along with other colleagues who just arrived. Journey back to the residential area where I parked took about 2hrs as we had to drop off people at hotels in town and then at the office before finally getting to the res8dential area    Read more

    Trip end
    May 18, 2025
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