If  we could take a big bucket of water filled with Dettol liquid soap and scrub off all the scum and pollution left on buildings in Nigeria, we would . Yet we feared that we would be washing away all the history of our people, heritage , &  OUR pride. Consequently, we would be erasing all the intricate characteristics that make up the country we love & find so beautiful . 

“Welcome to Naija!”

After arriving at the airport in Lagos, we noticed that some of the conditions had not changed since the last time we were there. We were shocked to see the condition of the airport because the  “Murtala Muhammed International Airport” is the only Airport used to travel internationally into or out of the country.  So we figured that the airport would look more presentable and up to date.

Customs officers quickly greeted us with bribes and attempts of fraud  just to get our luggage out the airport.  It took us hours to leave the airport for drills that would usually only take 30 minutes in other countries. We paid people extra money just to do the job they were already suppose to be doing. We should of known from that point on that the airport was only a preview for the interactions we would have with locals throughout the rest of our trip.

It didn’t seem like much had really changed, home still looked like home. Nigeria seemed like a country that had aged but not really grown.  All of our nostalgic childhood memories resurfaced as we rode past all the civilians on the streets. Every  sounds seemed distant yet so familiar.  

On our way to our Aunts house, we couldn’t help but notice all of the political campaign signs.  It quickly became obvious to us that it was election season in Nigeria.  The streets were filled with  faces of political figures dressed in empty promises. 

Our minds were puzzled by the current state of parts of Nigeria. Nigeria is a capitalist country overflowing with resources and opportunities, yet starving kids lay on the streets like forgotten rusted pennies or old chewing gum .

 

 How could a country with so much promise, potential & resources remain so stagnate? So it seemed…

To us, based on our quick snapshot judgement of  “home”.

Nigeria seemed to resemble the characteristics of the electric slide,  constantly moving around but eventually returning to the same place. You move forward , move backwards, move to the left, move to the right , you turn around and begin again. You wake up the next day and the dance begins again.