Bukuru

Bukuru is a very old city near Jos in Plateau State in North Central Nigeria. It was one of the first built in Nigeria during colonial rule. Jos has always been the home of many cultures.

Understand

It is inhabited by various ethnic groups and chiefs, of whom are indigenous Jarawa, Berom, Anarguta, Bugi, Mwagwavul, Angas, Tarok and many more from other areas of Nigeria, such as Yoruba and Igbo, Hausa and many southerners displaced from other northern cities in the aftermath of religious violence. The most widely spoken language is Hausa, and because of the high literacy rate in Jos, almost everyone also speaks English.

Because of its old structure, Jos has been a very hard place for the government to renovate. Although places like Ray-field and other new settlements have the feeling of living in a developed city, its oldest sites and tourist locations most certainly are very outdated.

Get in

Bukuru is served by many bus lines, chiefly Cross Country that runs air-conditioned mini-van services from Lagos and Abuja. The state government-owned Plateau Line runs station wagon services, but these are mostly uncomfortably crowded trips. Many other state governments operate transport services with termini in various Jos motor-parks from surrounding state capitals: Gombe, Lafia, Kaduna, Damaturu and even Yola. Other mini-bus or car services are private arrangements where you sit and wait for the vehicle to fill up, but are best avoided because the drivers tend to have dubious driving skills. You can also get into Jos by having a private driver in a private vehicle; because of terrorist acts, you may pass through a lot of security check points.

By plane

• 1 Yakubu Gowon Airport (JOS  ^IATA). Arik Air runs a once a day domestic flight from Lagos to Jos. The airport is about 30 km from the town so it is best to have some money for a taxi fare to town (generally about ₦2,500) if there will be nobody waiting for you. (updated Jan 2023)

By train

The old locomotive trains famed in Cyprian Ekwensi's The Passport of Mallam Ilia no longer bring the people in and the tin out.

Get around

There are many taxi cabs, and other transport vehicles all over Bukuru, such as motorcycles, tricycles and buses. But they have to be shared with other passengers over defined routes. it is also possible to get a private taxi where you share with no one at all, but it is much safer to bear the inconvenience of travelling with others, to avoid getting robbed. Some mini-bus routes are also defined but these are difficult to understand. The taxis and buses almost always tend to be rickety. Motorcycle taxis, commonly known as 'okada' are also a choice but these can be very dangerous as the road network is filled with a lot of potholes and there is a general lack of safe practices. The "okada" rides also tend to be more expensive than the 'Tricycle' or bus rides but are very flexible.

Various roads lead to Lamingo depending on where one is coming from. From the University of Jos (main campus/permanent site), you could get a small bus, a motor cycle or a tricycle to Lamingo. Generally speaking, you can get to Lamingo from any destination within Jos with an average of about ₦10,000. You will always find a bus, a tricycle or a bike.

Buy

• 1 Kugiya Market (QVQ8+G3C, 930103, Bukuru, Plateau). (updated Jan 2023)

Eat

• 1 Soltina Cuisines and Gardens, Vom Road, 930101, Bukuru, ☏ +234806 349 2782. 8AM–10PM. Dine-in · Takeaway · Delivery. (updated Jan 2022)

Sleep

• 1 Healthy Body Clinic & Resort Ltd, Vom road, ☏ +2347031072074. ₦12,370. (updated Jan 2022)
• 2 Rockland Motel Ltd, 1 Vom Road, 930101, Bukuru, ☏ +2347037713210. (updated Jan 2022)

Go next

• Jos