Vehicles

1. Mota

   Car

   Usage

   Any car — works for taxis and private cars alike

2. Bas

   Bus

   Usage

   A full-size city or intercity bus — the terminal is "tasha"

3. Tasi

   Taxi

   Usage

   No meters — always agree the fare before you get in

4. Achaba

   Achaba (motorcycle taxi)

   Usage

   The northern Nigerian name for a motorcycle taxi — the same thing southerners call okada. Banned in some cities

5. Okada

   Okada (motorcycle taxi)

   Usage

   Understood across Nigeria — it beats the traffic but crashes are common, so ask for a helmet

6. Keke napep

   Keke napep (tricycle taxi)

   Usage

   A three-wheeled shared taxi, named after the NAPEP poverty-reduction scheme — safer than a bike for short hops

7. Adaidaita sahu

   Adaidaita sahu (Kano tricycle scheme)

   Usage

   The name of Kano State's tricycle scheme, literally "straighten the ranks" — a local name for the same vehicle

8. Keke

   Bicycle

   Usage

   On its own it means a bicycle — say "keke napep" for the tricycle taxi

9. Babur

   Motorcycle

   Usage

   The machine itself — the taxi service is "achaba"

10. Babbar mota

    Truck / lorry

    Usage

    Literally "big car" — they fill the highways, so take care overtaking

11. Motar asibiti

    Ambulance

    Usage

    Literally "hospital car" — English "ambulance" also works. Show it in an emergency

12. Motar haya

    Rental car

    Usage

    Usually hired with a driver

13. Jirgin ƙasa

    Train

    Usage

    Literally "ground vessel" — lines include Abuja to Kaduna

14. Jirgin sama

    Airplane

    Usage

    Literally "sky vessel" — the airport is "filin jirgin sama"

15. Jirgin ruwa

    Boat / ship

    Usage

    Literally "water vessel" — the larger craft

16. Kwale-kwale

    Canoe

    Usage

    The small craft used to cross the Niger and Lake Chad

17. Amalanke

    Handcart

    Usage

    The two-wheeled cart that hauls goods in markets — use it when hiring one to carry your load

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