December 21, 2015 – As I arrived Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on a Sunday morning, November 9, 2015 for three weeks’ vacation in the United States, I knew I was going truly to God’s own country.
My experience at MMIA in the hands of Customs officials and other immigration personnel alone is something I cannot forget in a hurry if you have also gone through similar check before. But do I have option since that is the only passage to the US by air.
My journey to the US was en route Addis Ababa, Ethiopia since I took their national carrier, I mean the Ethiopian Airline. Arriving at the airport after about six hours flight, it was imperative to go through checks since it is a normal routine for anyone traveling by air. But however, the difference is very clear in the way and manner immigration officials conducted checks on travelers like what I experienced back home.
I was amazed at the number of aircrafts on sight either landing or taking off at the Addis Ababa International Airport and quickly I remembered the long years of the Nigerian Airways.
At least I counted up to 20 of such aircrafts on the Tarmac at Addis Ababa International Airport.
Can anyone ask our leaders the whereabouts of Nigerian Airways? Am sure your answer is as good as mine. But are we still the giant of Africa and nation with the largest economy in the continent when we can no longer boast of even one aircraft as ours.
As oil is the main stay of the Nigerian economy so Ethiopia relies on their well- managed and efficient Aviation Industry. Do we even use the God-gifted oil well except for few in the corridor of power that uses it freely for their benefits and allies?
Our leaders are always very proud and even raise their shoulders any time they are traveling abroad in airlines belonging to smaller African countries. I do not mean to reduce Ethiopia to size here, but the truth is that in terms of economic and human potentials, we are not at per.
No wonder why one of the Senators now known as Commonsense Senator is canvassing for attitudinal change in our way of life and orientation. Although, there is a diverse opinion about the initiative. Well that is a topic for another day.
My twin brother asked me on the third night I arrived in Laurel, Maryland my destination for the three weeks’ vacation, if there is any room to compare Nigeria and the United States of America, I told him point black that there is no room for that at all. He insisted but my answer did not change because I was honest in my reply.
We hear a lot from Religious leaders about how beautiful Paradise is even when no one has been there for those who merit it, but I have come to conclusion that America, the God’s own country and others in the developed world{ Canada, France, Germany, Dubai and not forgetting South Africa} could stand as a yardstick to measure goodies in the hereafter. Permit my judgment if I am wrong.
I was talking to a colleague back home who was preparing dinner for her family on the fifth day of my vacation in the US, to make it clearer, the time difference between Nigeria and Laurel in Maryland is six hours. She was preparing dinner for her family like I said when the light went off in Nigeria; you know what she just said NEPA o. At that point, I told her to concentrate on her domestic work. But before I let her go, I asked why not put on generator, quickly she responded, I don’t have fuel at home. At that point I once again realized that I was in a country where virtually everything works because of their system.
Infrastructure like electricity supply, good road network, health care delivery and social welfare are the least of their problems. Well this is not my first time in the US. I was there first in January, 2014 for two week plus for a Conference in Las Vegas Nevada. I stayed in the Hotels throughout my stay. For that reason, it was a one-way traffic all through from Hotel to Conference center except for when we stopped-by at restaurant to fill our stomach.
However, the situation was not the same in Maryland as I visited places including the White House in Washington DC, Voice of Nigeria, close to DC, several shopping malls and occasionally drove my sister’s children to school.
I returned to Nigeria November 30, 2015 and just at the arrival section of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, I knew I am back in “Naija” if you know what I mean. Aside the heat that greeted me, the Custom and Immigration officials didn’t help matters with the kind of search on people’s luggage. Please don’t get me wrong, I do not say they must not do their legitimate work but to say the least, much of what they do was just not necessary.
My believe is, it is never too late for Nigeria to get it right but we must start to show sincere and genuine desire for change in our fatherland.
May be we can begin by saying God Bless Nigeria every other time like America does and reflect truly on the contents of our National Anthem.
God Bless Nigeria.
Taiwo Olapade,
News Editor\Lagos State House Correspondent,
