Our journey from Lagos was relatively smooth till we entered the Asaba end of the Niger Bridge traffic where we spent over seven hours, arriving Enugu the next day.
By Kanayo Esinulo
We left Lagos as early as 7.06am for Enugu on Wednesday, December 29. There were just three checkpoints along the Ogun stretch – in fact, two were by FRS operatives while one was by unnecessarily ubiquitous Nigeria Customs.
Otherwise, it was a smooth drive. The Ondo section wasn’t crowded with checkpoints. But Edo axis was infested by horrible and greedy policemen who have turned that portion into unauthorised “Toll Gates” and they were rude, impolite, aggressive and visibly extortionist in style.
Edo State has about twenty one (21) police checkpoints. The few Military checkpoints posed no threats and no delays. They were very civil. Delta was calm and cool – just three police checkpoints and armed only with their polite “Anything for the boys”. Time was 2.10pm.
Then, we got to the notorious Asaba end of the Niger Bridge. Come see Wahala! The traffic jam stretched from the Bridge to Asaba Town.
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Remember that we got to Asaba town by 2.10pm. We reached the Asaba end by 9.12pm – seven solid hours between Asaba town and the bridge. It was unbelievable.
At a point, I had to come down from the car to ask a Mobile Police officer who was sitting on a pavement, looking tired what was really happening. I asked what was really happening. He said he was sitting there to catch small rest. He said he was tired, really tired.
“The traffic is uncontrollable. Nigerians drive anyhow. I am tired. FRSC, Police, DSS, Defence and Security Corps, etc are all there (pointing towards the bridge) but nothing is moving. In fact, the Delta State Governor’s reps are here. My brother, we are doing our best. Nigeria is impossible”, he added in resignation. We got right on the bridge and headed to Onitsha by 9.09pm. That was the end of the agony.
From Onitsha to Enugu was a smooth drive with just three military checkpoints in Anambra State – no time wasted, and four along the Enugu axis. We got to the popular Millikin Hill by 11.56pm on the dot.
As we entered Enugu, the whole town seemed to have gone to sleep. The Harmattan breeze welcomed us to the Coal City. We reached our Trans-Ekulu final destination by 12.12am on Thursday.
Yes, Edo State Police checkpoints wasted and waste travelers’ time, and then the impossible Asaba end of Niger Bridge. Otherwise, it could have been a trip to behold and cherish.
Welcome to Enugu, the Coal City that I first visited in mid-December 1961 during Secondary School Christmas Holiday. Bless Enugu always.
Kanayo Esinulo, veteran Journalist and Public Relations expert, wrote from Enugu.
