Maza Maza can easily pass as the headquarters of inter-state travel in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub. No other park in Lagos boasts a larger concentration of transport companies than this area that takes its name from a Yoruba expression that loosely translates as “do something quickly or rapidly”.
Located between the popular Mile 2 bus-stop and Agboju market along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, just by the Festac Town First Gate, Maza Maza is where most of the key transport companies in Nigeria have their head offices. From the household names like Young Shall Grow Transport, God Is Good Motors, GUO Transport Company Limited, Ifesinachi Group of Companies, Peace Mass Transit Limited, Chisco Transport Nigeria Limited, Africa Eagle Transport, E. Ekeson Motors, to the next-generation giants like Eddysons Transport Nigeria Limited, Libra Motors, Okeyson Motors, Transport Company of Anambra State (TRACAS), Cross Country Limited, Edegbe Line, Nsik Motors Limited (AKTC), Abia Line, Ecoline Transport & Logistics Ltd, and many others, Maza Maza surely offers limitless choices for long-distance travellers. While some of the transport companies have their terminals just by the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, a few others are located along Old Ojo Road, which plays host to a good number of bank branches.
Another big player, ABC Transport Company Plc, is located at Amuwo-Odofin, just off Mile 2.
And it doesn’t matter whether you want to travel by a luxury bus or the regular 14-seater bus that has come to dominate inter-state travel in Nigeria, Maza Maza has you covered. Of course, all of these companies offer fully air-conditioned buses, and many have migrated to online booking services. No matter your destination – Benin, Warri, Agbor, Auchi, Okene, Lokoja, Abuja, Onitsha, Owerri, Aba, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Umuahia, Uyo, Awka, Enugu, and many more – you’re sure to find a waiting bus at Maza Maza. And the buses do not take time to fill up.
In recent times too, a coterie of transport companies have sprung up offering long-distance travel by minivans like Toyota Sienna which is cool for family travel. All of these can be found at Maza Maza.
Some of the transport companies, including but not limited to Young Shall Grow Transport, Peace Mass Transit and Cross Country, have more than one terminal at Maza Maza for travellers to different parts of Nigeria. Many of them also offer transport as well as logistics services beyond Nigeria to the west coast of Africa as far as Ghana.
Because of the presence of these transport companies, Maza Maza is ever bustling with commercial activities. There are food-sellers servicing travellers, staff of the transport companies and other businesses. More importantly, Maza Maza has turned a mini market for motor spare parts – from tyres to alloyed wheels to batteries, down to fan belts and bulbs.
The presence of water just on the edge of Maza Maza places it in good stead for water transportation. Indeed, in yonder years it was possible to get a ferry from Maza Maza to CMS and other parts of Lagos. Up until recently, one could still catch a sight of abandoned ferries by the Maza Maza jetty.
Maza Maza is different things to different people. But true to its name, it is a place where people are constantly on the move. Indeed, a website, naijalingo.com, suggests that the expression “Maza Maza” can be used as an exclamation, like “Rapido!” in Spanish, or “Make it snappy!” in English. Example: “Oya, make me go! Maza maza!”
Of course, if you find yourself at Maza Maza, you must ensure that you transact whatever business that took you there “sharp sharp”. And, please shine your eyes. If you dull, you could lose your bag.
