Nigeria has been a wonderful place for me. It is my
birth place and it is where I grew up. I so much like the country even though
there might be some s**t going on, but that will not stop people from having
fun or creating fun.
There are so many hilarious things that happen day
in day out and every journey is a story, be it walking down to the market or
flying across the country you will meet different kinds of people with different
behavior.
I will like to take you guys on a journey, my flight
from Abuja to Lagos. Flying from Abuja to Lagos is roughly 1hour but as you
guys all know, that is just the flight distance. The flight distance is the
short part of the story, it actually begins when I started approaching the
airport. As Nigerians we never start things early, based on our rules, it is
either on time or after the time, but most at times it’s after the time as
nowadays invitation cards with no “African time” written goes as standard like
how date and venue appears. So luckily I targeted to be on time (good
Nigerian), 20 minutes to the time, I was about to enter the airport all of a
sudden I met a long queue ahead, sighting people from a far distance, having
picnic by the road side while waiting for the queue to move.
Order wasn’t our language so there was a huge bottle
neck at the gate. It’s all about survival of the corrupt (I mean fittest
goes both direction) with the police making sure those with high priority are
allowed to pass thru (if you know what I mean). It was a two lane express road,
but in time of need, we are very efficient and creative so the road was
converted to 5 lanes all struggling to pass through one lane plus the other
lane for the high priority. So it took almost an hour to get in with the full
assurance that the plane hasn’t even landed yet based on our undocumented rule of
law.
Upon getting to the entrance, parking was an issue,
no parking signs posted everywhere (I mean parking for the corrupt elites,
excuse me), so it was another hustle there. Getting the baggage was yet another
problem, the personnel’s were very excited to help take the baggage into the airport terminal but for a
price, anyway getting to the check in counter was also another friendly face
waiting, I was served nicely and then charged later on for a cheap smile I
received. After spending 2 hours, I had to wait for another hour before we were
ready to board the plane (finally).
Walking down to the plane was so easy as compared to
the hurdles of getting to that instance. The plane was divided into two; first
class and economy (as those are the only two classes we have in the country
based on income rate). After seated, the air hostess provided us with some
instructions, it wasn’t clear as I don’t think I saw the life jacket under the
seat that she was talking about and the other free seat next me doesn’t, so I
thought may be its sharing as we do with every basic amenity in the country,
anyway fingers crossed.
Taking off through the run way was hash as the plane
had to fall into some few portholes before we were finally up with seat belts
securely fastens or so I think. The pilot was in a hurry to reach the required
altitude that I was glued firmly on the chair I was seating on and all of a
sudden I felt as if the whole engine was shut down, I don’t know if they were
trying to be economical with the fuel or that’s its normal operation so it has
been some up and down with the engine going sort of on and off. Sleeping wasn’t an
option as staying alive was hardly guaranteed.
Approaching Lagos was as if a runway was constructed
in the clouds and we are landing some gravel due to the thick clouds presen. The whole plane was shaking and
there was sudden decline. I wasn’t really sure if we were trying to dodge the
clouds but one thing for sure is I am better off on a roller coaster. Lagos was
straight ahead and we took a nose dive to the airport (economically) and finally
we are on ground. It was the same process all over again and finally I
arrived at home in one piece and as a Nigerian it’s just life and it’s just a
normal procedure.
Such experience in America or UK with ground down
the industry but not in Nigeria, in fact that’s the safest means of
transportation and it’s a privilege to even get to fly. So many plane crashes,
but that’s just an unfortunate circumstance (badluck) we so much believe in
luck that we even selected Goodluck as our president. I think it’s good to have
this kind of experience from time to time it keeps you in good shape without
necessary going to the gym because I see it as a good mental exercise with your
whole life flashing and plus I think that’s why Nigerians are so religious
because you hardly know when the moment will come. Proudly Nigerian, Good
People Great Nation.
