The alarm start blaring and time check its 4 o’clock or 4:30am.
Alarms are set according to the location you reside or proximity to the office.
Though, even if you failed to set an alarm, those ambitious evangelists who
wear that green banner on their body may probably be in the neighborhood by 5
am or the mosque down the street will switch on its amplifier by 5 am too for
the first call to prayer. There is absolutely no need to snooze your alarm or
ignore the sound from our religious fellow, because an attempt to do so either
means you begins your day in a frustrating way or you will have your boss issuing
you warning for coming late, your boss might may not necessary be very timely
but he takes proximity sacrosanct as he lives very close to the office. After all
he is a boss and can afford the cut throat rent. A lower cadre employee dares
no such thing as he can’t even boast of a meager savings after a month
expenses.
Depending on your apartment type, the bathroom may attend to
you on a first come first serve basis if you reside in a FACE ME I FACE YOU
apartment but if you are lucky enough to live in a self contain you quickly
rush through your shower, get dressed and hit the road before it is past 5 o’clock.
The buses popularly known as Danfo are never off the road. They are always at
your service but you need to be smart at all time while commuting with these
buses, their conductors are steady bullies, you must develop the bully tactics
to be able to stand their antics and challenge them when necessary. They often
talk like they own the heavens, but trust me they are often the laziest you
probably would have imagine; the manner they change their tone and prostrate
before you when they meet a superior power you can but appreciate their creativity
in acting. Some Danfo are notorious for ONE CHANCE, the day you be a victim of
one chance you will have eternal phobia joining Danfo. That is the easiest way
to be robbed off your items. They come in the guise of commuters heading your
destination as soon as they have you in their net only divine intervention can
guarantee what your safety will become. Thank God for the selective banning of
Okada from some major roads, if it was in the days of Okada you will always feel
at risk stepping out of your house as early as 5 am; as there might be one bike
chilling in a hideout waiting to snatch a bag from an unlucky lady passing by. The
option of joining a Danfo is often because it’s the commuter that is easily
available, though, you could be lucky to get private car taking passengers
heading their direction just to augment their fuel expenses. Vigilance is
always the word in Lagos, if you don’t thread with caution, you could be a victim
of the ritualist or kidnappers who come in this guise. BRT-LAGBUS still remain
the safest means of commuting; they convey you efficiently to your nearest bus
stop and more comfortable, all that is changing now as those buses have become
over aged in their looks, seeming like they lack maintenance and they are
almost likened to the MOLUE as the people standing in every journey are more
than those sitting.
The traffic are usually mild if you step out early enough
and you are sure of having a choked free ride to your destination, if you are
unlucky and you get trapped in the traffic it becomes the countless miracle you
expect like every other problem you wish God brings a helper like every other
Nigerian. The buses are usually over loaded as everyone is seated clustered
with no space to even take your money out of your pocket when it is time to
pay. A five minutes break down or disruption of the traffic flow can cause a perennial
jam for the rest of that day unless you are fortunate to have sane LASTMA
officials on that axis. In Lagos every one is in a hurry, no one is orderly;
the commuters are steadily shunting from one lane to the other thereby causing
more jam on the road. If you have become used to the system then it is less
hassle getting to your destination on time as you will know the best means to
do that. In Lagos, traffic is not an excuse of being late; if that is your
excuse I am sure after repeated warning at the office you will have no choice
than to get used to the system. It is very simple; wake up early before the cockcrows,
set out and if you find a good space in the bus you get others to enjoy the rhythm
of your snoring while the journey progress but some days you may not be very
lucky when there is a sister that will be strategically seated to let out the
word PRAISE THE LORD when the journey takes off. The sermon will always get to
your attention as it either come in two fold; it either tells you how you haven’t
tapped into the prosperity of God and dishes out to you the prophesy that will
make you see yourself as a Dangote in the next hour or it steadily reminds you
of the gory tale about hell fire. Trust me no one is righteous and everyone is wary
about what becomes of them on the last day. At the office almost everyone has
an early morning sleeping position, where they quickly have a nap before it is
logging time.
Another interesting side of the journey is being in the
company of a favourite radio station. Lagosians are radio lovers; whatever
being your personality, there is a radio station for you. Jimi Disu on classic FM is always there to
remind you on the lopsidedness of our political system and steadily analysing
of who is right and wrong, Manni and the Angels also doing their thing on Cool
FM, Yoor is always at it for the pidgin lovers on Wazobia FM, Niger FM also
does its thing, the football lovers have Brila FM telling you who will and lose
in the next EPL match, inspiration FM with Dallas and Eyor doing their
hilarious thing. The list is endless.
The time zone of Lagos is probably different from other part
of Nigeria as other part seems faster than Lagos, just saying. By the time its 5 pm which is the official closing
hour the roads have becomes jammed once more and the journey home is probably
less interesting like the morning rush hour as almost everyone has totally
become exhausted. The stretch of lights from the cars often seems endless and
makes one wonder when they will get home. Radio stations have totally up their marketing
strategies as they have programs for every traffic situation. This is the time when sharing life issues are humming
from Inspiration FM and Rhythm FM. By the
time you finally get home and you decide to rest before taking your shower your
consciousness will probably be regained when nature starts calling and you
realize that you have been deeply asleep a realm where both the rich and the
poor are in an egalitarian brotherhood. Before you can settle to have a real
decent sleep the alarm will come calling again and you are on your way back to
the shower.
Lagos na wa.
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