02 Feb 2006 |
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I recently returned to the US after trip to our beloved Nigeria. The following is a sometimes light-hearted narrative of my views, experiences and observations during the 3-odd week stay. I arrived in Nigeria at the beginning of January. I chose to route my flight through Abuja because of an element of sanity and serenity I have come to associate with travel through that airport. I find that the people are relatively calm and the environment considerably less hectic than my experiences traveling through Lagos so I’d highly recommend it as an option. Also, as an architect, I relish the opportunity to immerse myself in the profusion on on-going developments, both commercial and residential, in and around Abuja. At these times, I see why people have described Abuja as Africa’s largest construction site! You need to see me wielding my digi-cam! As much as my dear Naija people seem to be paranoid about cameras and picture taking, I’ve managed to amass quite a collection of pictures in and around Abuja, at least. On second thoughts, perhaps with the burgeoning Nigerian movie phenomenon, we are less camera-shy because directors are hopefully using Abuja backdrops for their movies – now there’s a good selling point to/for Nollywood! Anyway, that’s how come my journey within Nigeria begins at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. It is quite impressive, being one of the few airports I’ve seen in Nigeria that actually have any deliberate design effort expended in their creation. Not to be critical, but many of the airports in and around Nigeria could pass merely as sheds with roofs from whence people scurry unprotected from the weather over tarmac to planes of dubious quality. Translation: A steel frame, roof and aluminum framed windows does NOT an architectural wonder make! I’ll return to that issue later. Honestly, I love my Nigerian people, but could anyone explain to me why there was a grown man assigned to stand beneath a sign directing Transit Passengers to one side and those of us going to receive our baggage to the other as we arrived at Abuja International Airport? I thought immediately of the waste of resources this duty posting represented. Here is a grown man - possibly the father of twins - assigned to stand beneath this sign every time a flight landed and direct two to three hundred odd passengers in the direction that the signs were supposed to be pointing in. Hmmm! Were there absolutely NO other tasks that could occupy him within the airport? Was the assumption that the people coming on these planes were most likely illiterate and thus unable to decipher the information on the signs? I know what you’re probably thinking; Haba eezeebee, you don’t know all the details about that sign. It must contain a very complex message that is impossible to distill simply. The man is there performing a vital function without which anarchy could probably reign throughout the airport, what with lost passengers, expired transit visas etc. You be the judge: this was not, I felt, a complex sign. It was not mounted very high or out of sight. It was well illuminated (PHC was functioning – geddit?) Indeed, it was merely a directional sign aimed at separating the arriving passengers into two groups; those who had reached their final destination on this flight and needed to get their baggage, and those who were still in transit to further locations along the route. The two arrows on the sign thus spelt out the words 'Baggage Claim' and 'Transit', the former towards the left and the latter to the right. Why then was this man standing there directing us? I realized as I approached him that he was sending us in opposite directions to where the signs pointed! The sign proudly proclaimed in white letters on a green background ‘Baggage Claim’ to the left, Transit to the right. He instead told us to go claim our baggage on the right much to the passengers’ consternation and confusion. I love my people, don't get me wrong, but is there ANYONE in authority at the Abuja International Airport that can actually authorize a CHANGE to the sign so that a grown man (or woman) isn't required to stand and re-direct passengers? Even if the functions (and therefore direction) occasionally change, is it outside the realms of imagination to install 'changeable' signage? What intrigues me so much about Nigeria is that some of the problems that we create and sustain for ourselves in many instances could very simply be solved by the judicious application of a little thought. I ask myself: is it that we as Nigerians cannot, do not or will not think? Conversely, it is for this EXACT reason I am so hopeful about Nigeria; I believe that with just a LITTLE thought and imagination, we can catalyze the processes involved with positive change for the PEOPLE of Nigeria in and around the country. I'll criticise at Obasanjo all day long for what I perceive are his shortcomings on a macro level but I CAN’T expect Obasanjo to monitor the signage or the staff assignments at Abuja, Lagos or ANY other airport! That is the duty and responsibility of the Airport Manager who ought to assign such responsibilities to the Airport Facility Manager(s)! Haba, my people! While we continually seek inspired leadership, we have responsibility in our own spheres of influence to make positive changes! I smiled through the re-routing and commented to those waiting for me beyond customs about that small and (I thought) simple thing and got my first encounter with what I humorously consider to be Nigeria’s catch-all phrase – “forget about all ‘dose tins’ (those things)”. Because I love my people, I’ll tell you about many more of ‘dose tins’ I encountered next!
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