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== Finding Rides ==
[[File: view77.jpg|thumb|left|400px| The friendly people that gave hitchhiker [[user:notapalooka|Alyssa]] a ride to the Niger/Nigerian border. Rainy season in the desert.]]
In Nigeria, as is common throughout Africa, the long distance public travel system is a choice between big buses, or smaller vans or cars. Some collect passengers only at the bus stations in towns, but many will stop wherever there are passengers waiting for a ride. Thus unless you are willing to pay for a ride you must learn to distinguish these vehicles from personal ones, and not flag them down. Personal vehicles may also ask for money (sometimes more than at the station).
It is best to try to find rides once outside the cities. Inside there are far too many taxis/moto-taxis/vans/buses hungrily searching for passengers. You can easily recognize them by typical green color with yellow strip in the middle. Not to mention hitching in plain view of hard working locals may instigate negative feelings from those looking desperately to make their $1 profit for the day. Get to the end of town and signal vehicles by holding out your arm horizontally, palm face down, and waving up and down.
That said, Nigeria is a very friendly country and many people will go far out of their way to help you. They are proud citizens and weary of the negative view that the rest of Africa and the world has of their country, so they will likely go out of their way to show you wonderful hospitality and help you experience their vibrant culture.
