Husband and amazing daughter joined us in Lagos a few days after I arrived and the entire extended family adjourned to Aba where my parents still live.
Nigeria was fantastic! Time with family and friends was wonderful. The anniversary celebration was brilliant, we had so much fun!
Since this blog is really about my time in Kenya, I shan't go into too much detail about my time in Nigeria but I must say that every time I visit Aba, the town I grew up in, the place my parents still call home, I have to hold back the tears. While things are improving in many parts of Nigeria, Aba is getting worse! Things that we took for granted in Aba of the 1970s are wishful thinking today! I can't list everything here; that would take too long. Aba has been the victim of almost 2 decades of bad governance! Nothing works as it should! And yet, there is this indefatigable optimism amongst Aba people; this belief that things will get better; this willingness to work hard against all obstacles to make a living and to have a life, that must be admired. The tragedy is that the political classes continue to squander this optimism and spirit. It's too upsetting to say much more. Any fellow ABUs (Aba Brought Ups) who read this blog will understand...
So, on to more cheerful things. The anniversary celebration rocked!! Amazing daughter sang beautifully at the church thanksgiving and party, and a good time was had by all! Husband partied like it was 1999! (all those hours spent 'working' in his study were actually spent on YouTube learning the latest dance moves to Naija pop; my husband still has some serious moves! He got his grove on big time in Aba!!). He promised - in front of witnesses - not to wait another 15 years for another visit home. We packed up and set off back to our various places of residence and work the next day.
Back to Lagos via Owerri airport – very positive experience. I was wished 'happy sunday' many times but no one asked for me 'Madam, something for us?'. One night in Lagos and back to Nairobi on Kenya Airways. Impressed by my first female airline captain and the excellent service on board.
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta airport, we went through the Ebola screening and then disaster, we were asked for our yellow fever certificates!! I had completely forgotten about those!! Please note that as a public health physician and a strong supporter of vaccination, amazing daughter and I were fully vaccinated and yes we had both received the Yellow Fever vaccine because I knew that we would be travelling from a YF region (Nigeria) to a YF –free country (Kenya) and that a valid certificate was mandatory. Unfortunately, Amara’s certificate was in Yorkshire and mine was in 'the Penthouse' in Nairobi! I admitted our guilt and was referred to the boss and I confess, I played the ‘doctor’ card. I explained to the port health medical officer what I did for a living, confessed to being forgetful and asked to be given the benefit of doubt. It helped that I happened to be carrying a letter from my UK employers on me. Phew, the boss allowed us through (I heard from another passenger that travellers without YF certificates regularly get put on the next flight back to where they came from.
So friends planning to visit from Nigeria, please take note: get vaccinated and make sure you bring your vaccination certificate.
Nne, the "yellow card" is peddled on the passenger queues for Kenya and South Africa bound flights for 200 naira (I'm ashamed to say). Next time, just look up... The won't be far, whispering " Jo'berg? Nairobi?"
ReplyDeleteAs a communicable disease control specialist, I cannot condone the purchasing of 'yellow cards' in passenger queues. I encourage everyone to get the vaccination done first. Look at it this way;, if that chap who brought Ebola into Nigeria, had done the right thing, we may not have had the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, and who knows, Dr Adadevoh might still be with us today. These things do serve a purpose...
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