Local Services in Benin

The transportation in Benin includes the highways, the railways, the airways and the waterways. The Republic of Benin has more than 6,000 kilometers of highways. More than 1,000 of the road in Benin are paved leaving the entire road as unpaved. Highways are connected to some neighboring countries like Nigeria to the east, Togo, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire to west. Citizens of Benin rely on bicycle, mopeds, and zemidjans (moped taxis) as their means of transportation. Buses and bush taxis are also available to offer some service. A lot of motorcycles are being used as taxis in the city of Cotonou. You can distinguish them by looking on some drivers with yellow shirts on. It is the most convenient way to go around the city but it is also a little dangerous if you are not a thrill seeker. The streams of Benin are navigable. They use pirogues to carry people to the other side and also for transporting goods to the other village. They also roofed motorboats. Two of the 5 airports of the country have paved runaways. If you have the luxury of spending some time go ride a train all the way to Niger or to the Northern Benin. It is comfortable and it is also less crowded but slower.

Benin is not yet totally modernized by means of communications. The other towns in Benin have not established a postal infrastructure. The banking system is available only in the main cities of the country. Some locals especially on the province have no access on the bank services, credits or micro-finance products.