Going on an adventure would be quite sway, don’t you think? It’s always been something of mine that I’ve always wanted to try out. I grew up reading books like Harry Potter and other fantasy books, I even read a Nigerian adventure book titled * The Fabulous Four* which is an interesting novel!
A lot of these helped to fuel my hunger for adventures. I’ve always wanted to learn about cultures other than my own and know what makes them so unique. I also want to pay a visit to beautiful sceneries and lifestyles all over the world. However, in the event that I have all the resources I would ever need, I already know what adventure I would have.
I’ve thought about it, and what I’ll really need is security because of the kind of adventure I want to have, I can afford it if I put my mind to it. The only thing that will make it risky or expensive, is the threat to life. And what is this adventure? A tour of my dear country, Nigeria.
If not for bad governance and poor security, there are so many beautiful things about the country that can be explored. We have one of the best tourist destinations in the world, but due to abandonment and neglect, they are all rotting and the communities that should have been better off are suffering.
I would like a road trip throughout the country, I’ll just get into my car and begin to drive, from state to state. I would visit all the tourist sites, I’ll also try to visit as many villages as possible and then spend time with them so I can learn more about their culture. I won’t have a timeline, I can be in one state for over a month, depending on the goodies I find there, and can be in another state for just a week. I can even be in one place for a year. It all depends on what the state has to offer. All I know is that I would not be in any hurry to round it up because I would be having the time of my life all through the journey.
This is something that should be easily affordable, right? Apart from my schooling, I can work from anywhere on the planet, and this traveling itself will always be a source of inspiration for me, so I will never run out of content. Nothing could go wrong, right? Well, that’s where you’ll be very wrong.
Security is a major issue in my country, and a road trip like this will see you suffer in a way you won’t even wish on your enemy. A road trip like this, across state borders will just be mean. I’m not going to talk about terrible roads, that is an issue but it’s not the major issue. Driving from one corner of the country to another will be a fight for your life; if you’re not avoiding kidnappers, then you’re running from bandits and terrorists. If you manage to miss out on those, you might be shot down by unknown gunmen. And if for some reason you escape all the criminal elements, you’ll still have to deal with the elements backed by the law.
These guys make traveling a nightmare for people. I know that the police and soldiers who man the state borders have a duty to protect the state, but I don’t think the duty includes harassing everybody they come across. There are some areas where you can’t drive through without dropping something for the boys and if care is not taken you could be just another person who started a trip and simply vanished into thin air.
It’s a scary world indeed and it’s the major problem Nigeria has that is stumping her growth. Even more than our power issue. I would really love to travel around the country without fearing for my life. Yeah, there would be criminal elements for sure, but it won’t be so terrible that I would not even want to consider it.
There are places I want to go. I want to learn even more about my tribe, the Igbos. My parents don’t know everything and there are some things you just can’t get online, I need to travel there and talk to actual people who know. I’ll do the same thing for Yoruba, even though I grew up in Lagos, there is still so much I don’t know. Such rich culture that I want to learn all about, and I want to be there in person. Then, there’s the north as well, I would really love to go to every single village there. I’d also love to visit Edo state and its rich history, Calabar with its beautiful sceneries and locales…
This country is filled with beauties that deserve way more eyes and minds than they’re currently getting. Sadly, the only issue here is getting from Point A to Point B. If the government can reduce this security issue, even if it’s to a more manageable extent, we’d be fine. Also, if law enforcement officers are more inclined to do their jobs than harass innocent civilians, this country will take its first path toward really being the giant of Africa.
But until then, let’s all keep imagining. The streets are not conducive for such adventures and trying it out would be at my risk. Hopefully, with time things will get to a point where we can enjoy them. But for now, let’s remain safe. And continue wishing.
