Lagos is a city that never sleeps, It took me traveling to another state to realize that our state of living, character, etc is so different from other states in Nigeria, Lagosians will call it being smart, but the truth is it isn't, like why should someone be running after a moving vehicle just so you can get on board, or why would you leave your home by 5 am to beat the traffic when your work hours starts from 8:30 am, a journey that takes less than an hour could actually be for 3 hours in Lagos.
let's not even talk about the touts popularly known as Agbero, collecting their tax rudely and forcefully from the drivers, and the ones that try to dodge them would always end up in a fistfight. I was born and bred in Lagos and all this seems normal not until I experienced the peace and calm in another state, Akwa-Ibom state for instance, did I realize all Lagosians need regular mental check-ups.
Maybe because I'm already used to the way of life in Lagos that nothing surprises me anymore, the reason my unforgettable public transport experience isn't about Lagos but, during a trip from Lagos to Akwa-Ibom State. I woke up very early that morning to be on time for the 6 a.m. scheduled for early morning travelers, as expected, I was on time, problem started when the so-called "God is good jet bus" expected to take us to my home town from Lagos wasn't available so we had no choice than to use a substitute which was a mini AC bus and part of our money was refunded for the unavailability of the comfort the jet bus would have rendered, to be frank, I was a bit happy to get back my little balance, at least it would sort out feeding during the trip and also because the transport fare was booked and paid for online by my husband.
We got moving by 6:30am, all windows shut, apparently to get the AC to circulate, but my whole body system was against the lack of fresh natural air, I started feeling nauseous, when we haven't even left Lagos yet, how do I explain to the rest of 12 passengers that I preferred the windows down to let fresh air in than closed, i could perceive everyone's breath combined, I couldn't feel the freshness of the air conditional, I started feeling nauseous, to cut the long story short, I vomited severally from the beginning of the journey to the end, some passengers even thought I was pregnant, or maybe it was motion sickness, one thing I know for sure, the stinky air in the bus caused It. and I looked so pale by the time we arrived since it was a 12 hours journey, That was the most stressful journey I ever had using public transport, I felt sick for days afterwards, and was glad my mother in law was understanding because she was the one I visited, instead, she really took care of me, making sure I ate healthy meals during my stay to recover the lost strength and weight during the journey.
When it was time to come back to Lagos, I developed a fear of traveling by road, thinking about all I went through, but my mother-in-law gave me bitter colas and told me to chew them throughout my journey, it would prevent motion sickness, and true to her word, it did, or maybe it was the bus change because I demanded not to travel using the mini AC bus anymore and patiently waited for the Jet bus. My journey back was smooth and even faster.
I pray not to have such an experience anymore, it is something I wish to forget, going through such was very demoralizing and not a palatable experience at all, I don't even wish it for my enemy.
