My experience to Anambra on journalism work sponsored by COPDEM

By Ibraheemalfa Abdulrasheed

My journey started from ilorin to Abuja, all because I had a meet at FCT-Abuja, A day before the training,I decided to started my journey from their to Awka,average of four hours according to some drivers.

As I bid farewell to my friend who waved goodbye with smiles, I felt getting to the place as soon as possible, My people at FCT-Abuja,reassuring smile as they dropped me off at the park’Road side’did little to alleviate my anxiety about the long journey ahead.

The park was a dusty,chaotic hub of activity,with people rushing,some are sitting with the street seller to board buses or any available car.
I joined my colleagues,and together we squeezed into a bus already overflowing with luggages.The four-hours journey was a test of endurance,with my legs cramped and uncomfortable throughout.

The road from Enugu State was a nightmare, with potholes and dilapidated surfaces forcing vehicles to jostle for space on a single lane.The police and soldiers mounted the roadblocks,openly soliciting bribes from drivers,It was a blatant display of corruption that left a sour taste in my mouth.

The journey took a turn for the worse when an elderly woman,clearly unwell, began vomiting in the bus.
The passengers response was callous,The soldiers at the roadblock intervened, warning the passengers to show some kindness/respect.

The tension in the bus was calm,after that,the passengers angry at the driver’s behavior at the point reluctant to speak out for fear of further delays. As we finally approached our destination of about four hours according to, now good eight hours,the driver’s demeanor became increasingly aggressive, quarreling with passengers who dared to criticize him.

We eventually arrived at Uni.zik. junction, relieves to disembark from the chaotic bus.However,our journey was far from over.Luckly for me one of us, ‘passenger’I ask the venue and the address am heading to he knew the place and he was the one that called The local tricyclics and told the guy to alight me at a particular church were I started calling the contact number given to us, to direct us to the final destination, DDM.I T Academy,

Finally,after what seemed like an eternity,I arrived at the academy around 12:08am.exhausted but grateful to have arrived safely.As I alerted my Friends/family to my arrival, I couldn’t help but reflect on the turbulent and on rest journey that had brought them and I my self to this moment.

However,the experience was a mixed one and it has given me another joy that in life I have another opportunity to add more to my story on both academic and life story.

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