On My Trip to Nigeria
Having been away from my home country due to the pandemic, I decided to take the first opportunity to head home and see my folks, especially the love of my life and my mother who is now 86 years old. As is always the case, everything was fine until I landed at the Murtala Mohamed airport, then everything changed.
The first thing that hit me was the heat inside the airport. Yes, our international airport does not have functioning air-conditioning systems inside the airport, and you wonder why. This is not really a new phenomenon, Murtala Mohamed airport has been without air-conditioning for quite some time now. I just wondered if we are proud that our largest port of entry into the country is without functioning air-conditioning or maybe we are devoid of any shame. But I will not go there for now. Reeling from the heat, it is now time to deal with the immigration officials. Granted they did a good job of processing us all, but what is with this matter of “drop something for us?” From the time I hit immigration, every airport official that I encountered wanted me to “drop something” for them. It was truly embarrassing since a tourist coming to Nigeria for the first time would imagine that none of these persons are being paid for the job that they do. I kept wondering if there is any more pride left in that country that almost all persons have tuned to begging to get bye in a country that is blessed with so much? Truly this is both sad and pathetic at the same time. I spent approximately five days in Lagos and then headed to Owerri on my way to Enyimba city where I spent most of my life. This trip to Aba town was on an invitation from a friend because I have not been to Aba since my father passed in 2002 and that is a long time.
My Trip to the Enyimba (Aba) City
Having been away from the city of Aba for such a long time and relating to the images being posted and bombarded on social media of the deplorable state of the city ranging from impassable roads to heaps of garbage strewn everywhere. However, and to my greatest surprise, the contrary was the case! Despite a few potholes leading into the city, I was pleasantly surprised that most of the roadways in Aba are all tarred and passable. What I saw on social media images of potholes, dirt and squalor with cars stuck on mud trails are a stark contract to what I am seeing upon arrival at Aba. Upon entering the city and throughout my stay, my friend made it a point to take me throughout the city to help me get a better view for what my city has become. I was shocked and amazed at the rejuvenation that has taken place in Enyimba city since. What was perplexing me is the constant images peddled on social media depicting Aba as this sordid, dirty, garbage ridden city with no pliable roads. That is so far from the truth. I do not know the governor, neither do I want to know him. But I would say – yes it may have taken him a long time to begin to clean up the anointed business capital of Nigeria, but we need to give him credit for the job he is doing so far.
One thing about Nigerians and Igbos in particular is that we have a problem admitting we are wrong. Would you believe that despite providing photo proof of the state of Enyimba city, some of my friends still find every reason to either justify that the Governors effort is a little too late or that my information is somehow erroneous. It is almost like we go the extra mile to portray our country, states, and local governments in the worst lights ever. Who does that? As our own Igbo proverb goes, whenever a man wakes up, that represents his morning. I am saying all these to say that some folks would rather we continue to wallow in the squalor that signified previous administrations just to have something to talk about; and, that is truly a sad representation of who we are. So, thanks to Governor Ikpeazu for the work you are doing so far. You may have started late, but better late than never! One request, please Governor, could you improve Ulasi Road? That road has been the most neglected road in the history of Aba! It will add to your legacy if you find it in you improve the condition of Ulasi road!
The question some may be asking is why this Anambra man is talking about Enyimba city as if it were his hometown. Well for those not aware, Aba is the greatest melting pot of all cities in Nigeria. That city has this unique magic that binds anyone who has spent time in that city to identify with the city. It is a city that did not only recognize the value of diversity but nurtured it to the advantage of all its residents. People grow up in different cities, however, only Aba residents will claim and identify with the city as if it were there home. We have even gone as far as forming Umu Aba Worldwide group of former Aba residents in the United States and suffice to say that most members are not even Aba indigenes. That is the magic of Aba, the Japan of Africa!
It is true that I was pleasantly surprised at what I saw on my visit, however, one bad observation is the proliferation of Keke Na Pep or tricycles all over town! These tricycles are crawling all over the city like roaches. They are everywhere, in front of you, behind you, besides you and if not careful on top of you. The three days I spent on Aba roads was spent dodging and docking these keke drivers. They have absolutely no regard for other road users be it motorists, pedestrians, and are the major cause of gridlock at every intersection. Their singular motivation is to squeeze into the tiniest space available to get to the front of the que. I believe it is time the state and local government began to regulate these keke drivers to bring some semblance of sanity to traffic movement. At one point, I was tempted to shake hands with a keke driver due to how close he was driving to the vehicle for which I was a passenger.
Heading to Ihiala via Owerri.
My buddy “the Ordinary Man” decided that he will drive me to Ihiala to make sure I got home safely. He probably was not confident in my ability to find my way home – which was a fallacy, but he insisted. On our way to Ihiala, we stopped at Owerri to inspect some private projects ongoing and being conducted by fellow Nigerians who live in the United States. I was very impressed with what I saw in Owerri, good roads, businesses everywhere and we even exited and patronized some fast-food joints in Owerri. Outside of very poor customer service, the food was all original, indigenous, and surprisingly good. I was truly proud that we have not attempted to dilute the value of our food for what obtains in European or American countries but have adopted our food into the fast-food environment. There is just one challenge with all the good roads and that is the proliferation of roundabouts at every intersection. I do not know who our road engineers and/or traffic planners are, but my goodness they could do a better job of planning these intersections. Despite all the good roads, it took us almost 6 hours to navigate our way out of Owerri due to unnecessary gridlock. Furthermore, Nigerians hate laws and will never abide by any laws. Despite these intersections, some having traffic signals that work, and others having traffic police, drivers will simply ignore those traffic lights and police with everyone wanting to beat the other drivers to the intersection – this leads to total gridlock and I am thinking that it seems we rather sit in these intersections than allow a fellow road user have access to enable us move on. Such is our mentality.
Once we cleared Owerri traffic jam and completed our inspections, it was onwards to Ihiala. The Owerri – Onitsha road was all good and free of any potholes. Traffic was moving quit well. I remember coming to the Njaba river hill curvature and remembered the notoriety of this section of the roadway. I recall that this stretch of highway was notorious for accidents, and flipped vehicles, which we somehow believed it was due to the name “Njaba” and some mystic power of the river. Truth be told, drivers just needed to slow down due to the curvature on the roadway. Suffice to say we made if past Njaba in one piece. Again, my pleasure senses was on the rise due to the nostalgic feelings that was beginning to overcome my entire body as we go through these villages on our way to my hometown. However and as we approached Amorka, we hit another traffic jam. We speculated that there must be an accident that blocked the roadway because we were barely moving. It took almost one hour to get to the source of the traffic delays and guess why??? A military checkpoint! Granted we did not meet any military, police, or vigilante checkpoints since leaving Abia State. So why here at the very tip of Anambra State? My friend, the Ordinary Man explained that it was the federal government who deployed the military as a check on the activities of the so-called Eastern Security Network (ESN). It is amazing how the actions of a few ends up affecting an entire community. I was thinking, it is the innocent citizens that are stuck in this gridlock. It is the innocent citizens that will waste their gasoline as they sit in this traffic jam waiting to be cleared to continue to their trip to whatever destination they are headed. What a waste of time and resources.
Once we cleared the Amorka gridlock, it was smooth sailing until we arrived in Ihiala. The one problem was that it was dark by the time we reached Ihiala and we had no electricity to booth. So, rather than navigate the empty house in darkness, we all opted to check into a hotel till the next morning.
I decided to do this piece about my trip to emphasize that all the time I spent in Lagos, Aba, Owerri and Ihiala, there was never an indication of any kind of war or fracas ongoing in any other those communities I was privileged to visit. People went about their daily hustle, chores and businesses without fear or concern, and I was left wondering why social media was agog with all these rumors of war in Igboland and making it appear like the entire eastern region is on fire and at war with the federal government? I never heard any gun shots except for the occasion cannon shots for the numerous funerals being conducted in my hometown. The market was bustling with activities and people seem to be pretty much content. I truly enjoyed my trip and boy was the food fantastic! I drank my share of palm wine since some of the upscale restaurants now buy them fresh and keep them cool in their refrigerators. You have not lived until you have had a cold, I mean cold palm wine in that Nigerian heat. Had I listened to all the naysayers and war drummers, I would have opted to lock myself in my room and never venture outside. Had I internalized the megaphones of social media, I would have been scared of my own shadow and made myself a prisoner of my own imagination.
What I am saying in effect is that, if you want to travel home (Nigeria), please do not listen to all the fake news on social media regarding this raging war in Igbo land. There is no war, even the stories told by some of the people at home are all made up and designed to illicit fear, leaving you vulnerable to their whims. Do not fall for it…travel, enjoy yourself and be mindful that your biggest challenges and fear should be the people around who purport to know you and will jump at every opportunity to take advantage of your newness and ignorance and separate you from your money and possessions. In essence, as you enjoy yourself at home, do not be naïve at what may be lurking close to home and from very familiar grounds.
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