Local2Global with Ada Africa: HOW I ‘TREKKED’ FROM OBOSI TO FREETOWN FOR NOTHING

Join me on a frightening adventure as I recount my vagabond from Obosi to Freetown in Sierra Leone. Buckle up as I take you through the highs and lows, the laughter and tears, the twists, turns, and unexpected encounters.

I personally chose to embark on the daring journey, driven by a passion to explore my Africa and a thirst for discovery.

PART 1: OBOSI TO LAGOS

In the course of my career programs in South Africa, Brazil, US, Italy and Germany, I interacted with Sierra Leoneans. I love the name, Freetown very much and put it on my bucket list of African countries to visit. I got a training to facilitate in Sierra Leone and I thought it’s a good time to explore and observe what happens at the West African borders.

I chose to travel by road. I prepared and tagged it an adventurous trip. To avoid anyone instilling fear in me or discouraging me, I didn't tell close allies that I will be doing a road trip. I made searches online and spoke with drivers of transport companies that ply the route. None gets to Liberia nor Sierra Leone, hence I decided to break the journey in bits from OBOSI.

I set out in October 2023 one Tuesday morning for Lagos by road from OBOSI. I had a nightmare at the Benin by-pass and got demoralized from continuing the trip to FREETOWN. It opened another chapter of suffering for travelers making it look like a journey to hell. The Benin Bypass was dreadfully distressed and a foe. I was actually warned but I wanted to experience it.

We endured harrowing experiences that lasted many hours as the potholes on the road have graduated to boreholes, causing terrible gridlock. Trailers and other heavy duty vehicles were stuck in the cascading mud.

I saw frustrated-looking passengers like myself. I rushed down from the vehicle when I couldn't get air to breathe. I made an instant decision not to ply the road on my way back.

While at Ore, I got a call that my brother, Mr. Kyrian Udegboka just died on that Benin by-pass. I was shocked though I wasn't surprised that not everyone can withstand what happened on that road. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

I continued the journey in fear and kept asking a priest the possibility of getting to FREETOWN by road and if he knows anyone that has done such a trip before. I got to Ago, Lagos past 8pm and was totally worn out.

I didn't book with any transport company going to the West Coast, because they will limit the adventures and observations I want to make at the borders. I want to walk freely and take my time to avoid any driver hurrying me up.

Stay tuned for more hilarity and gravity, as I spill the beans on the journey from Obosi to Freetown!

Ada Africa 🌍

PART 2: LAGOS TO SEME BORDER - DANCING WITH IMMIGRATION DRAGONS

So, the saga continues on my epic trek from Lagos to Freetown! Rise and shine at the crack of dawn – 5am to be precise! Destination: Mile 2. I embarked on the quest to unravel the mysteries of border-hopping, armed with a heart full of curiosity.

Little did I know, the agberos (transport touts) were ready to woo me into their vehicles like persistent suitors, promising a journey direct to Togo that will be smoother than a baby's bum-bum. But no, I had my eyes set on conquering the Seme border solo – the true adventurer's way.

I was on a mission to be the master of my border-crossing destiny. My dance of persuasion with the agberos lasted till a fashionably late 6:30am. Patience is a virtue, right? So, off I hopped onto the Seme border express.

As we cruised from Badagry towards Seme, the immigration checkpoint made a grand entrance. Passport? Check. Documents? Not really. Turns out, they knew the local traders so well, they didn't bother asking for their travel papers. The driver got a little side paid hustle, to cross the passenger in the front seat, while the other lady sorted herself out. Yours truly, armed with a passport, became the odd one out.

At the last stop, the driver, sensing my solo border-crossing bravado, asked if I needed his expertise to drive me across the border. After a brief internal debate, I reluctantly caved in. As we hit the Nigerian side, I was greeted with a jaw-dropping sight – a border makeover! Upgraded version of airport terminal, digitized systems, and the whole shebang! Gone were the sore sights I experienced in 2016, the last time I used the border.

First stop, my fingerprints and photo passport captured – like a VIP at a biometric spa! Then came the payment counter – N1000 for virgin passports (if you have been to the US, UK, etc your passport is virgin if you haven’t cross the border with it. lol), and N500 if your passport has seen the border-stamping action before.I questioned the legality of the stamping fee, and out of the blue, an Igbo officer (bless his heart) stamped my passport, liberating me from the clutches of paying the illegal fee.

But hold onto, I’m not yet free to leave – Benin Republic's immigration had its own dance of demands. Money for the stamp, you say? Again entered the benevolent Igbo officer signaling him to stamp and let me go.

But, oh, the plot thickens! The health port officer pulled me into her vaccination web, demanding a yellow card. Turns out, there is something unwell with my vaccination card, the card has been phased out and replaced with E-card. I felt bad not knowing about it as I’ve used it in all my previous travels. She pitched me an E-card upgrade for the cool price of 5k. Regrettably, I declined, thinking I'll get it on the flip side of the trip. Little did I know, that decision would come back to haunt me.

Trekking to the park, another group of officers had to check my passport, page by page and on seeing two pages with US visas, asked me to share some dollars with them. They delayed me for a while, humorously said it remains small for me to become a US citizen, so let them chop some dollars with me. Lol.

Stay tuned for the next parts, where my yellow card takes center stage and my dance with border officers gets even messier!

#BorderBlunders #YellowCardDrama #SoloTrekChronicles

Ada Africa 🌍 +2348033842029; local2global4@gmail.com; www.whaiafrica.org

Local2Global with Ada Africa - My Naira Crunch Story: For the 1st Time I Cursed Nigeria

With the death of my dad in Jan. 2023, I stayed in the village and got so engrossed with renovation work and other burial preparation that I forgot my trip to the US. Two days to my flight to the US, I rushed back to the city and bundled everything inside my bag and headed to Lagos.

I arrived in Lagos on Sunday and at night, I unbundled my bag and I discovered I forgot a few vital items but the most essential one was my two USD debit cards. I called my sister to check them so it could be sent with the first bus from Asaba on Monday. She searched and couldn’t find them.

I settled my mind to go to the bank the following morning and get a new dollar card. I can’t embark on the trip without a card or cash as I would be stranded right from the airport on arrival.

The first bank I went to did not open for business. I enquired from the security and he directed me to another nearby branch. I trekked to the branch, same story. I picked a Bolt (hailing taxi like Uber) to the third branch, I was told there was no network.

I got confused and started making calls to know why the banks in Lagos do not open for business. I was told it was due to the attack on some banks in the past weeks because of the naira crunch so fear caught most banks to open. The relation I called after explaining to him my ordeal directed me to go to Island, that corporate banks will be able to deal with such dollar issues fast.

The entire cash I have as a human being was N600 only so I resorted to using Bold so they can deduct money from my card. All the rides I ordered to take me to the Island asked me to cancel the ride. I was cancelling quickly and ordering a new ride. I was shocked after the 4th ride was cancelled. I was barred from ordering a ride. REASON: because I have cancelled numerous times.

I was walking on Lagos Street confused, thinking of what to do next. Yeah! N600 can take me to the Island. Let me get there first, and worry less of how I would come back. I boarded the public transport and spent N500 to land at the bank’s headquarters.

The security informed me that the headquarters was recently moved to another location. They gave me a description of how to get there and the cost. Involuntarily, tears rolled down as I had only N100 with me and I couldn't book a ride. I asked if I could trek it, NO was the answer.

I walked away and started entering any branch of the bank I sighted. The first one refused to grant me access to enter. Many customers were waiting too. I explained to the security guard my ordeal. He went inside and came back with the feedback that the debit card was unavailable.

I continued with my ‘hiking’, it was the same story for the next two branches I got to. I was exhausted, it was past 2pm and I haven’t had breakfast. My priority was to get the card before any other activity for the day. The next branch I saw, I explained to the security officer my ordeal, he said he didn't understand what I was saying, and rather I should go in and explain myself to the Manager. He directed me where I will meet the manager.

As I strolled inside the bank, the Manager, a fair young lady first sighted me and started commenting on my fashion attire and the one I have on my head and next, tears rolled down from my eyes. She was shocked and ran to get a seat for me. She took her time to calm me down, gave me a napkin/serviette to dry my tears and beckoned me to talk to her.

After she listened to me, she assured me I will get a new card in less than 40mins and it happened. I thought I had conquered and done for the day. Didn’t know another hassle was awaiting.

I went to the bank ATM to confirm the card was working, all the ATMs were not working. I went to two other banks, none were working. I started slogging again looking for banks where the ATM works. The sun was too much for me to bear but because I do not want to get stranded on landing in New York, I struggled to continue the search. Finally, I found an ATM that worked and confirmed the card work.

Time to go back to the mainland, how do I go back? I have only N100 left with me. I checked the Bold app, I was still barred from booking a ride. I asked for directions to the mainland, I was shown and so Ada Africa started trekking from Island to mainland under the scorching sun.

I was completely exhausted and worn out. Buses to Yaba kept passing by but I couldn't board, no shishi with me. I picked courage to board one knowing I don’t have the N300 bus fare. Time to pay, I asked the conductor if he could collect transfer. The conductor looked at me and started raining curses on me. I didn’t say a word, rather collected all the insults with prayers.

We got to the final bus stop, I pleaded with the conductor to take the N100 I had. He collected it without a word. I was happy and said a word of prayer for him. To get to my hotel, I had to trek from Yaba to NRC headquarters and the sunshine was horrible. It was on it I discovered one market where ndị mmụọ sell and package Igbo foodstuffs for travelers. (I will tell the story in another write-up). I was staggering on the road, not even a dime to buy water to drink. I was no longer myself.

Meanwhile I was on the phone with a relation I called earlier in the morning to get me food, water etc to the hotel. I staggered and arrived at the hotel and went straight to soak myself in the bathroom. Out from the bathroom, I delved into the food and drink. It was night already, no strength to pack my bag for the trip the next day. I went to sleep.

The next morning, due to the prolonged trekking I did, my legs were aching. The relation gave me little cash, so I bought other things I forgot and dashed to the airport. I boarded and sat on my seat inside the aircraft and with the body pains, for the first time in my life, I cursed and cursed the country called Nigeria. And right there made plans not to come back to Nigeria but the Africa in me won’t let me do that.

Every week while in the US, I will call Nigeria to know whether the naira crunch is still on. I vowed never to return until it is over. It was a nightmare experience.

What is your naira crunch story?

Ada Africa

local2global4@gmail.com

L2G with Ada Africa: GETTING VISAS WITHOUT USING PAID AGENTS

In all the 24 countries I have been to, none did I use an agent. I have less idea how the use of agents works. Using agents is good and helpful but know this…

I am not a travel agent or run a travel tour outfit like I see many today run online just because they have travelled once or twice, then set one up and bill desperate japa applicants.

Sam (not real name) has been my mentee and also volunteers supporting the work we do at WHAIafrica. People like him, I go all the way to offer them many opportunities for free. But Sam made a caricature of our project discussion via one of his careless jokes. When I made him understand what he did, he insulted me on top join, so I smiled and left him.

He called several times to inquire about the US visa that he got an institute inviting him for a program in the US. I felt it was the right time to penalize him for his careless joke, so I ghosted his calls and intentionally referred him to travel agents. Weeks after, he was still calling me. One day, I reluctantly picked his call. He narrated the ordeal and outrageous amount the agents charged him.

I smiled and asked him to pay the 400k with assurance that even if he got the interview date brought forward, he won’t get the visa. Well, at last I decided to help him even though I’ve not forgiven him.

· I edited his invitation letter, put in missing vital parts and with the right terminologies

· Asked his sponsors to reprint it using the letter headed paper

· The available interview date was 2024 while the scheduled US program is April 2023, he was crying and didn’t book the date.

· I ordered him to book that 2024 available date and he did

· Then request for emergency visa and uploaded the authenticated vital docs

· In less than 24hours he was scheduled for visa interview to take place in 48hours at Abuja

· I got him prepared for the interview

I forgot to call Sam before the interview but by past 10am when I knew his interview would have been over, I sent him a text that read, ‘CONGRATULATIONS’. He bursted into laughter and asked, “How did you know?” He narrated how everyone before him was denied a visa.

“I had no doubt that you not getting the visa. I know what the Americans want and those were the contents in your documents and most importantly, they were all genuine”, I told him. So, next month, Sam will be joining me here in the US.

What about you, are you coming? Lol. Unfortunately, I can’t do this for everyone.

Stick to this page as I write other experiences concerning getting visas or visa denials from first world countries.

You will learn, avoid the necessary and prepare ahead.

Tag and share with others who might need this knowledge.

Recognize what God has called you to be, accept the gifts He has given you and start building on them!

Ada Africa Udegboka

+2348033842029

empower@whisperinghopeafrica.com