Where Was I?

At least, no one raised an alarm to ask where I was all through yesterday hahaha, oh, @Princessbusayo did hahaha.

Yesterday was a mixed day for me and I believed for most of those I travelled with yesterday as well. It was eventful but when you think about the state of our roads here in Nigeria, you just couldn't help but wonder if things can get better in this country. I like being optimistic but there are some things you couldn't help but wonder sometimes when it comes to Nigeria.

I woke up quite early around 5:30 am to get ready for a long and bumpy ride (thanks to our road) to Badagry, here in Nigeria and I stay at Obanikoro. We already knew it would be long-distance but no one envisage how terrible the roads would be. Thank God I tagged along with the person who took his 4 Runner vehicle else, maybe I would have come back home with my vehicle in parts.

I got to the meet up with the person I was to go with around 7 am as planned and we were 6 in the car, including the driver, so I knew it can never be a boring ride. We were on our way already when I decided to use the Google Map to link up to the point where we would be following another car that would escort us to Badagry because we have two missions there;

• 1. We had a Prison outreach to attend.

• 2. We had a wedding for a member of our Prison outreach group.

We set out on the road when the person who owns the car suggested we get a phone handler that we can use so it would be easier for the driver to see the map rather than rely on the voice coming alone from my Google Map. The driver kicked against it and said the Road Safety officers had kicked against people using the mini gadget on the dashboard and anyone found wanting would be charged. The owner of the car exclaimed and asked who made that crazy rule (he isn't based in Nigeria, he just got back from the U.K and that's how he comes home any time we have an outreach which is usually quarterly).

We spoke a lot about the crazy rules our government make to frustrate an average Nigerian and we couldn't exhaust the topics because oh boy! Our government is crazy. They do things without thinking and I narrated how I hardly go out because sometimes I just don't want to get involved with whatever rules they have set again especially with someone like me who hardly know Lagos that well but because these officials would look for the slightest of opportunities to nab anyone and exploit them. They would be more than happy if you don't know where you are going and you make a turning you are not supposed to. They would happily jump into your car and ask you to drive to their station to scare you but what they want is for you to give them an exorbitant amount as settlement; something that would never go into the government coffers.

We started getting close to Badagry and oh boy, the roads were terrible. My back hurts, body aches as we were dancing in the car to the rhythm of the bad roads with no music. It was an eyesore and I am so sure the contract for that road must have been written on paper, money disbursed yet there is no execution on the road to be fixed. A lot of people would have taken the contract for it over the years because they would add it to the budget and due to lack of accountability, the road stayed there in that dilapidated state as people milk the economy dry by getting allotted the money for a road they wouldn't fix

The road was bad for 2/3rd of the journey and we felt the pain when we finally arrived at the Prison (which they now call correctional facility). For the first time, I was happy to see the inmates looking healthy and happy. The controller of that branch was an amazing man who called those inmates students rather than prisoners which made them see themselves in light of being in an institution to learn and become better people.

What got me excited the more was how happy they were to sing, dance and listen to the Word of God. I've never seen people dance so heartily being in a facility with only their hope on God to help them. I couldn't help but see through their happiness and see how happy they were. We take a lot of things for granted and one of them is our freedom. We don't understand how happy we should be to walk freely without being guided to and fro. It humbled me even further.

We dropped the food items we brought for them and I watched how they were listening to the Word of God. We dropped our phone at the entrance of the facility so we wouldn't be able to record or take their pictures for security reasons which is understandable. We left after spending 3 hours there and the thoughts of how the journey back would be set in again. We knew it would be another bumpy ride before we get to the hotel we would all stay for the second plan of the visit which is the wedding.

I can't begin to wonder how insensitive and carefree our government can be. Some of these roads are death traps but I am so glad God saw us through the journey and the bigger prayer would be to see us safely back as we would be leaving again today after the wedding. I know the wedding today would be amazing and it starts early too. By 8 am, we would be going for the Traditional joining before we head to Church around 10 am for the Church joining and afterwards, we would head for the reception. After the reception, that's when we would start heading back because it is indeed a long journey back home.

That was how my journey was yesterday and for those who noticed how silent I was on the platform yesterday. I am sorry I wasn't able to engage much and I hope you pardon me and even for today as it might be another busy day for me but I would try my best to engage as much as I can.

Thank you for your time.

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